nysalogs | ❪ event ❫ spirited away

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❪ event ❫ spirited away

PRELUDE

I'll get straight to the point, Thesaens. Dranbu is in dire need of assistance. I have received confirmation that the disappearances we were investigating last month have... escalated. Be cautious as you make your way through Josa Forest. Ideally we could go straight through, but it seems the main entrance to Dranbu is overgrown with thorns and vines, and there's a bit of a glitch with the rail system - the train is having trouble recognizing the Dranbu station as a destination.

I've uploaded a homing beacon to your devices with this message. Once enough of you have arrived in Dranbu proper, it should communicate with the train and register it as a stop. With any luck, that will make getting back and forth much easier for you all from now on. Best of luck.

Entry to the forest is not only overgrown with vegetation, but seems to be growing at an increasingly alarming rate. Any attempts to clear the vines will be met with even larger ones growing in its place, and it only confirms Nurray's findings as true.

The only way in is across the sound from Nadril, entering the forest from its snowy back yard. It doesn't stay cold for long; as one ventures further into the forest, the snow will disappear, as though it was completely out of place in the first place. The red sun's warmth will take its place soon after— and before long, you'll feel too warm for the clothes you came with. That's when you know you've entered the heart of Josa Forest.

WITHIN THE FOREST

The forest seems to be thick with a profound presence that can’t be ascertained. While venturing through it, one will feel like there are being watched or followed. This feeling will only intensify as metallic-scented drops of rain begin to fall between the clearings in the trees. Unfortunately, what many don’t realize at this point is that this is how the forest itself eats. How it subsists and lives through the minds of those who eventually get lost in it. Wandering this far in is akin to walking into a lion’s jaw, or rather… straight to its stomach.

But, the forest has a way of making one stay. While it swallows someone up, it shows them sinfully beautiful and picturesque sights. Even showing them people or things that are familiar to the lost. All of which will urge them to go in deeper and deeper. But, while the forest begins to prey on the mind of their victim— they will suddenly hear an elegant and alluring voice urging them back.

This voice promises them comfort and safety. Promises to be kind and open. Promises she has a place for them where they will never feel displaced or unwanted, or lost. Before they can fully accept, they will find that they are whisked away in Barthala’s embrace.

Some will be taken, wiped of all their previous memories and inserted new ones. Others will find they have no prior memories at all of themselves, only urged to go on with regular life. What is prevalent is the forest's desire to turn you. Metamorphosis is a phenomenon that occurs only to certain individuals, and there is no rhyme or reason to them. Some adventurers would find themselves changing by the minute, the hour, or the process may even take days and weeks. The forest toys with you, but it only wants to draw you closer to its core — as though there's a story there it wants you to see and understand. Will you go on anyway, knowing the forest has already has its claws on you?

I. ALL ROADS LEAD TO —
Exploring the forest is not a perilous experience - Barthala's blessing ensures that paths remain clear of any dangerous obstacles, and keeps anyone who enters the woods from losing their way. However, it will not always lead adventurers where they want to go. Stressed? Your path leads to a meadow, grass drifting gently in the breeze. Tired? You'll find your way to a tree with roots perfectly curved for a nap, the shade a peaceful retreat from the sunlight. The hungry will find streams full of fish or bushes laden with berries, and the curious will come upon elder trees, unique and beautiful. Only those who are truly satisfied with their circumstances, with themselves, can forge their own path, and venture to Barthala's Grotto.

II. BARTHALA'S GROTTO —
The deity's home is host to an abundance of life. Butterflies drift through the air, brilliantly colored and unbothered by any intruders. Foliage blooms in a rainbow of colors, many plants unique to this area alone. With trees arranged to provide a canopy over the path and small clearing, the scene is something out of a fantasy. Any plant life taken from this area will not survive long, though even in its dead, dried state, it retains a curious beauty. Explorers and creatures finding themselves in this area will suddenly find their clothing to be an unnecessary burden - what could be better than feeling the wonders of nature against bare skin? There is nothing unbecoming about such a natural state, any perverse inclinations are an aspect of personal preference. While the presence of Barthala can be felt here - a warm, comfortable sensation emanating from your core - she is nowhere to be found. Only one will have the opportunity to pass under a veil of willow branches and emerge to the cool air of a clear-as-glass spring.

Another nearby grotto is home to a plant with intoxicating effects. Just smelling the leaves is enough to entice most animals, and consuming them has effects on both mind and body. More easily amused, with thoughts that weave deep and distant, along with increased sensory perception can bring the user on a pleasant trip lasting up to five hours.

III. INFLUENCES — (18+)
Every five days, a weed scattered in patches among the forest underbrush blooms. The flowers are small and white, unremarkable except for how clustered they grow. When their petals fall, after only hours of blossoming, pollen drifts through the air. It clings to clothing, to hair, in the throats of the sensitive animals dwelling in the forest. Even those unaltered by Barthala's magic can be affected. The locals of Dranbu claim the pollen enhances fertility, but in practice, it simply serves as a poignant aphrodisiac. Those affected won't differentiate between the warmth of another or their own, a simple need to experience sexual ecstasy overwhelmingly pervaded. The pollen loses its potency after about three hours, leaving behind only a sweet smell.

YOUR NEW (NEW) LIFE

Adapting to an entirely new setting isn’t always so simple. People often say that assimilating oneself to the environment happens fluidly, and before you know it, you’re a part of it. In Dranbu, these words hold an uncanny sense of truth.

When you awake, your day begins like it always has. Your daily routine meets largely unchanged, except a few tinier details. Perhaps, you’ve realized your true calling is an occupation within the villages itself. Maybe in farming up strange medical herbs, maybe in acting as a witch doctor for the people, or maybe you find yourself drawn to the arts and you really enjoy sculpting fellow villagers in the nude. Once you commit these tasks, you realize, it feels like what you’ve always done. As if it were natural, as if you’ve done them for years, and maybe you have? At least that’s what your gut is telling you, and slowly your memories will too.

At the end of the day, when you return home, you realize you’re not alone. You have a partner who shares the same values and whom you love deeply. Or maybe a spouse whom you’re always arguing with. But, even that will feel as commonplace as the rest of your day. All you know is that the day that might have started off not being yours is entirely yours and yours alone.

IV. THE HUNT —
Those taken by the forest, animal features adorning their bodies, will find that their palates have changed as well. Carnivores crave raw meat, while herbivores don't mind snacking on a patch of grass or pulling leaves from branches. For most, there's no reason to cook a meal; once prey is captured, instinct says dig right in! It can be a gruesome sight, mangled bodies gorged upon leaving bloodstained faces, but it's natural. As is the hunt itself - any size of game can be found in the forest, and no one will go hungry for long. The magic that dwells here ensures a catch even for the clumsiest predator. Just take care not to stalk one of your own. For a hungry predator, there's no difference between a deer and a deer-like human.

THE BOUNDARIES BEYOND

For some, placated is synonymous with bored. While there is a sense of wonder in the beauties of nature that adorn the woods, serene forest life isn't for everyone. Those seeking more adventure can explore the challenging slopes of Waco Mountain. Barthala's influence is weaker on those bluffs than in Josa Forest itself, so thrill chasers won't be disappointed. Lose the path, slip on loose rocks, fall into a stream and spend a night wet and cold, there are many perils that come with traveling a mountain-side. Scattered ruins offer some shelter, their walls carved with images resembling Barthala, a dragon, and three other stranger creatures. While the deity's pacification does not flow as deeply through this region, all are still save from mortal wounds, and the veil cast over their memories will not lessen.

If you have made it this far, however, there is no reason to try to return to the main city of Dranbu. Accommodations are always available in the neighboring villages: Phares in the north, and Stroln in the south. These villages are in friendly competition with one another, and will tempt travelers with women and men of their kind in order to draw in business to their hotels.

FINAL OOC NOTES

No REP is available for this log. REP will now be primarily available through achieving NPC quests, which will be available on the 19th! Please keep an eye out for that!

Dranbu is entirely available for exploration! You may find that most of Wyver and Olympia Flora/Fauna may be found in the forest as well. For more information on your characters' (opt-in) Metamorphosis, please refer to the November Outline!

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's Yohane! [ the bat says on instinct, even though it's supremely muffled thanks to her tiny mouth now being full of hair. She struggles and flaps...but eventually gives up the struggle, awkwardly lingering in Ren's hair.

Thankfully, she's so tangled that his hair is supporting her for now. But she is ready to quickly bolt and start flying should he somehow manage to untangle her. ]

[...Well, at least that part hasn't changed. Maybe he should've figured, if she's somehow turned into a tiny bat.

Ren moves his hands back as she keeps struggling, but as soon as he can feel her stop, he starts threading his fingers through the strands of his hair a little above her, trying to pull it free section by section so it's a little easier on both of them.]

I thought it was both... [Both is fine, but that's not really the important question here.] What happened to you? I know it was Halloween last time we spoke, but this is a little bit extreme for a costume change, don't you think?

What the heck are you talking about?

[ Halloween? Something happening to her? That's ridiculous. She's always lived in this forest. She can't think of a time otherwise.

She still remains still, though insanely nervous, as Ren continues to try and untangle her from his hair. ]

[Ren's hands pause very briefly in their untangling at that, but to his credit, that's all the reaction he has. Even if this was the cause of the disappearances, there would have to be something else stopping the affected people from getting back to their friends to say anything...

He continues threading out the hair, a thoughtful frown on his face now.] Hmm, did you forget me? That's a little bit rude...

[He doesn't think being overly direct about the situation is going to work, though, so he might as well try to get more information.] How long have you lived around here, then?

A while! [ Yoshiko answers, as she watches Ren with a wary frown. She doesn't trust this. This whole situation is super weird and super worrying and why the heck does this guy keep asking her weird questions? What does it matter how long she's lived here! That's a silly question. ]

How long have you lived around here?

Hmm, that's kind of vague... [Ren sounds a bit doubtful in the hopes that it might get her to talk more when she's on the defensive, but he has no reason to hide the answer to her question, so he answers it without hesitation.]

Oh, I don't live around here, I live in Wyver. Have you ever been there?

[He's still carefully trying to work her out from being tangled in his hair, but given how long and thick it is, it's going to take some time.]

[ Yoshiko shakes her head and makes a little 'nope' noise as she does so. ] I don't think I've ever been outside the forest.

[ There's something fuzzy about that. While Yoshiko's certain she hasn't been outside of the forest (because it's so warm and cozy and comforting and why would she?), there's a little part of her bran that isn't sure. Which is stupid, because of course someone would know where they've been or not been. ]

If you live in Wyver, then why're you here?

Really? Not even to Nadril or Olympia? They're much closer than Wyver...

[He sounds surprised more than doubtful, because he's trying to adjust his manner to something she's more likely to respond to. He's not getting the impression being accusatory about the circumstances is going to do anything to convince her to talk or think about it more, so he'll settle for coaxing it out more gently for the moment.]

Oh, Nadril sent out a message saying they'd had some people disappear in this forest, so I came here to look into it. It sounds weird, doesn't it?

It does, [ Yoshiko admits, with a little sigh. People vanishing in the forest? Well, she could see why they'd do that. The forest was so nice and cozy, it felt wonderful to be in there. Maybe the people were understanding that for themselves? ]

There's a town nearby. Why don't the people disappear there instead of vanishing in the forest? I don't wanna deal with people!

I'm pretty sure they didn't disappear on purpose...they were busy trying to build a train track to Dranbu. So it'd be easier for people like you to see the other cities.

[He's trying to appeal to the broad and understandable here, things that would make sense to anyone regardless of position rather than things she'd only understand if she had her memories. He doesn't know her well enough for it to be a distraction, at least, because he'd probably be doing a much worse job of it with someone he'd met more than twice before.]

I think it's kind of hard to believe you don't like people that much, though...

But I don't wanna see other cities, [ Yoshiko points out, as she shakes her tiny little bat head. ] I wanna stay here. I like it here.

[ As for the other part...she frowns a little and fluffs up her fur. ]

People are big and scary. I don't like them and don't want them in the forest.

There's nothing wrong with liking it here, but other places can be nice too, you know? You'll never know until you see.

[He's being gentle about the coaxing - he learnt pretty well during his first conversation with Yoshiko how stubborn she can be when provided a more direct opposition, so he's keeping it less so on purpose.

He hums a little in surprise at her follow-up, though, and he almost sounds a little sad when he speaks again.] So you think I'm scary...?

[It's harder to fake sad than fake offended, but he's managing.]

Of course you are! [ Yoshiko chirps. ] You're big and tall and have weird fur that I can get tangled in! What's not scary?

But you wouldn't have been tangled in it if you didn't run into me... [He sounds kind of pouty at that.] Trees are big and tall and you can get tangled up in the branches, but you're not scared of them, right?

[Or presumably not if she loves the forest so much in this form.]

Nope! Trees don't move. Besides, I live in a tree. It's super cozy and comfortable.

I'm sure hair can be just as cozy and comfortable if you don't get tangled in it... [On that note, he's still trying to get her out of his hair. He's mostly threaded her wings out by this point, but her claws are a bit more delicate and more tangled.] Is there anyone else you live with, like people from this forest or from Dranbu...? It seems a little lonely out here.

[ To her credit, Yoshiko is being very calm and steady as Ren continues to try and untangle her from his hair. She already got more tangled up once, she doesn't want that to happen again. ]

Nah, I live by myself. [ she thinks. she's got to, she doesn't know any other bats. ] It's not that bad! I don't really know anybody else who can fly like I can, so I'd have to live by myself to begin with.

[Ren's fingers work delicately around her claws as he tries to get his hair out without doing any damage to either of them. He might need to brush his hair after this, but that can probably wait until later.]

Huh, that's a shame...I'm surprised there's not more people who can fly. I guess I was thinking of if you shared a place with some other people, but you all slept in different places. People who can't fly could just sleep below your spot, right?

[He's actually giving this a decent amount of thought, since he does like animals and feels like it'd be less lonely to live like that.]

Why would I want to share a place with people who can't fly? [ she asks, like that's a silly question. Because at least in her mind, it is. Flying's a part of who she is. She's a bat, after all. Bats fly. It's as simple as that. ]

I'd have to go down to the ground every now and then to check on them and it's super dangerous down there.

But if you have other people around, then they can protect you as well. It's good to not be alone for reasons other than it being boring.

[With a few more tiny movements of his fingers, he manages to free one of her feet, but he still needs to work on the other one.] Especially when you say you don't know anyone else who can fly, wouldn't it make sense to be friends with people who can't?

[ As one of her feet is freed, Yoshiko experimentally opens and closes her toes, as if to make certain everything works. She's still staying as still as she can, but it's obvious that she's a bit antsy and wants to be freed from Ren's hair already. ]

But they wouldn't be able to fly through the trees with me. If I was friends with people who can't fly, then I'd be stuck on the ground with them all the time. That'd be boring.

Some of them would be able to climb, right? So maybe they could jump through instead. It kind of sounds like you haven't talked to that many of them...

[Either that or there's a lot of people here that are land-bound animals without much mobility. He shrugs slightly as he continues trying to untangle those last toes.]

It just seems kind of sad to me to be alone like that. [Especially since Yoshiko as a human seemed to be much more open to hanging around others...]

[ If bats could blush, this one's would. Yoshiko gets a little needlessly defensive as she answers, ]

I-It's not sad! I'm perfectly fine by myself.

[Oh, there it is. He'd been wondering if he might be able to pick through about that point, and he hums a little doubtfully.]

Really? You sound kind of like you're trying to convince yourself about that and not me...

No, I-I'm fine. I know what I'm doing, I'm happy here, everything's fine, right?

[ she's still blushing but not really because she's a bat. Why aren't there other bats? Why doesn't she have someone she can fly with? ]

❪ event ❫ spirited away

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