❪ event ❫ spirited away

[natha]

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! QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs ● bestiary taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp ● quest bulletin calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[kikoku]

Mm. Most people don't care for my personality or line of work.
[Law says with a bit of a amusement in his voice as he draws up currents in the water with one hand. Despite his generally grumpy demeanor, he doesn't seem to mind the excessive talking. It prevents an awkward silence and gives him a chance to think things over. "The rest" sure implies some sort of group, but mostly he's trying to figure out how Molly's never seen the ocean but has seen seawater, since he has to assume Fjord's unusual reaction wasn't something he mentioned offhand as much as it was something that came up by happening inadvertently.

More than that, though;]

You've been here at least as long as I have, so a couple months. We're on an island. How have you not been out to the coast to see the ocean?
[He's been there loads of times, to see the water but also the boats. Definitely never to assess the viability of stealing one of them. Don't be silly.]

[mollymocked]

I don't have a map. I just follow wherever the simplest path is to follow when I can. [There are probably maps readily available and that's a piss poor excuse, so he adds, begrudgingly, though still with no awareness of the idea that he could lie and get away with it, simply because it hasn't occurred to him to do it. It's as natural to him as breathing and he's just not even thinking about it.

He sits on the ground with his chin resting in his palm and one of his nails stratching at a crack in the cavern floor. The sound of waterfall is far too gentle and it makes the sudden lull in conversation all the more eerie.]

And I try not to go too far out of the way. No one I know stays in that area so unless I drag Nott or Caleb or someone else along, I'd be taking it all in on my own.

[kikoku]

[Law mulls over Molly's words for a long moment, leaving only the muted sound of the rushing waterfall and the sparse dripping noises of water in the cave. He's surprised that for once Mollmauk doesn't seem sure of himself, almost as if he's scared to wander into new territory.

Well, it is a lot easier to travel in a group, he supposes he can't begrudge him that much.]

Maybe I'll just take the lot of you down there when the weather warms up again, then.
[He says this without looking over at Molly, because he doesn't want to give the man any extra ammunition to read into the intent behind this offer. He isn't nice, you can't prove that he is!!]

[mollymocked]

[It's so much easier. And safer. Safer is the key there- being alone makes you vulnerable to what's out there and that is an even bigger thorn in his ass than the fact that he won't allow himself to be alone.

His head jerks up abruptly and the slow grin that spreads across his face, lit up by the dim lights from the rocks, is a little unsettling. Intent has been read. It's happening.]

My god, you're actually being generous, aren't you? So you can be pleasant.

[kikoku]

[You can see Law's shoulders tense up, visibly becoming more defensive on reflex at his soft spots being pointed out so blatantly. He takes a moment to collect himself and remember that no, he did this, he's trying to be more personable. Have friends. You know, normal stuff.]

It's something I'm trying to work on.
[The expression on his face as he turns to look at Mollymauk probably reads as sarcastic, which is reflexives and unintended, but he's not rescinding his offers so it's presumably sincere?]

[mollymocked]

It's an interesting look on you. Bit weird, not entirely a good look with... all of your everything, but I'll take it. You're less awkward about being kind than some people are.

[Kiss kiss fuck you, Beau.]

[kikoku]

[This is a very confusing jumble of words that Molly's just stated with great confidence, and Law's truly not sure what to make of all of it as a whole.]

I'm not sure whether to be flattered or insulted.
[Also how dare you he's very awkward when it comes to anything openly positive.]

[mollymocked]

[Yeah, welcome to carnie fasttalk, Law.]

I feel like it's much more comfortable to just always take it as flattery if there's any debate. [He gives Law two vigorous pats on the back.]

[kikoku]

[He's just arrived and already wants no more of it. For what it's worth, he doesn't reflexively tense up at the physical contact for once, which is definitely something? Maybe the water and the pretty crystal cave has loosened him up a bit.]

I'm just going to choose to be both.
[It's his nature to stress himself out by feeling two conflicting things at the same time, after all.]

In any case, I had to haul around twenty idiots back home, I'm sure you and your two friends can't cause me more than half the trouble they did.
[Truly he speaks about his crew in such loving terms.]

[mollymocked]

Twenty? [The circus was big, but not that big. Even Gustav couldn't wrangle that many idiots. Molly is a bit shooketh.] My gods, man, no wonder you're so pissed off all the time. That is a lot of nonsense if they're even half of what the circus was with half as many people. My group now are way less dramatic than all that. You'll be fine.

[Probably. It could be worse. Jester could be here- he and Nott are bad enough at causing chaos, but Jester will accept nothing less.]

[kikoku]

[Law actually seems caught off guard by this response, surprised even. But for once it's not in a bad way. He lets out a soft noise that might even be a laugh that isn't tinged with his usual bitterness.]

There are plenty of crews five times the size of ours, actually. You'd be surprised how many people it takes to keep things running smoothly on a ship.
[He looks down at the water for a long moment, contemplatively. It's been months now since he's actually been on a boat, and while he's been on land for long stretches before, there's always been a plan of setting sail again sooner or later. Here he doesn't have any plans like that, really. But then the present conversation cuts back into his conscious mind, and one of the things Molly said hits him.]

... You were in the circus?
[He... doesn't sound at all surprised. He's just clarifying. If anything, it explains a lot.]

[mollymocked]

Didn't I mention that? [He didn't. It's just a comment to fill space while he tries to get his head around the idea of a group that size. He has this strange preternatural feeling of jumais vous that he gets on occasion about things, and it takes him a moment to fully banish it.]

I didn't have an act, exactly. I just read fortunes, helped set up, did some promotion. Intermediary stuff. Nothing too exciting.

[kikoku]

Mm. I can't imagine it was too hard to convince people to come to the circus if it was you asking.
[What Law means by this exactly is unclear. It definitely can't be flirting because he isn't that smooth, but if it was someone else saying it, it sure could maybe be construed that way, huh.]

I'd think you'd be doing security too with those swords you have, though.
[And whatever weird magic he blinded that one guy with.]

[mollymocked]

You'd think that, wouldn't you? [Molly interprets it that way, because it's Molly and he's a dick and it gives him an excuse to leer instead of just making one up for reasons.

It's tenacity, mostly. If people jeer, he jeers right back. He gets asses in the tent simply by not giving up until people go just to shut him up or to prove he oversold it, and not because his charisma was enticing. Law doesn't need to know that.]

What? These. [Molly moves his coat a bit to show the three swords.] Oh no, that's too flashy for security. Those're for if someone tries to attack us on the road. We left all the bouncing to Yasha- she's big and scary and people really, really don't want to cross her.

[None of which is a lie, so it doesn't catch him off-guard. He still feels a weird prickle in the back of his head like being under a Zone of Truth that says careful, careful.]

[kikoku]

Flashy.
[Well, by some metric, yeah, he can get that. But he honestly had assumed magic was something wildly prevalent in Moly's world given how he looks like some sort of demon and didn't ask a lot of questions about Law's own abilities.]

Is the magic you do unusual in your world or do you mean that in some other way?
[He mentally notes the new name though. Another one of Molly's friends, possibly one to watch out for if she ever joins the rest of the awoken.]

[mollymocked]

What magic? [His words don't quite have the innocence and naivety that he wanted- instead he seems to be perplexed by the word choice, but he catches on.] Oh... Oh the blindy thing? That's not really magic- well, not proper magic. I don't think. It's just something I can do.

[kikoku]

[The look on Law's face is close to surprise, but maybe not for the reason it might be for someone else.]

I suppose that'd make it more like mine, then. Truly, I'm shocked to have something in common with you.
[Not that he finds it unpleasant. Molly's just such a vibrant presence as opposed to his natural gloominess.]

[mollymocked]

[Molly reaches over and lightly pats Law's cheek.] Give it time. I rub off on people. It's kind of a thing.

[kikoku]

[Maybe it's the influence of Barthala's forest around them, but Law doesn't jump at the touch at all. He does, after a moment, make a face.]

I think that's the most terrifying thing you've ever said to me.
[It's a joke, sort of. He definitely can't see himself acting anything like Mollymauk, though.]