❪ introlog: #2 ❫ THE CALM. -- the overflow.

[natha]

ORIGINAL POST

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

[strictdiscipline]

[ She doesn't notice, too busy still staring out into the ocean. When she turns back to face him, he's composed again, at ease much the same way she is, though his words have her tilting her head in curiosity. ]

Did you live far from the ocean as well?

[toten_sie]

Yes, ma'am.

[ The Empire in general was landlocked, or at least as he'd ever seen, and he'd been assigned many places over the years. And the ma'am is pretty much instinctual. ]

[strictdiscipline]

[ "Ma'am." It's been a long time since anyone's addressed her as such, her army rank being far more common back home, and truthfully it makes her feel older than her twenty-eight years. She doesn't grimace, but there's a slight strain to her smile as she corrects him. ]

Riza is fine. Or Miss Hawkeye, if you prefer.

[ Just not ma'am, please. ]

[toten_sie]

Yes, m-- [ He swallows it. ] Yes, Miss Hawkeye.

[ Then, as he'd gotten her name, he figures he ought to offer his own. ]

My name is Randel, miss. Are you... new to waking up too?

[strictdiscipline]

It's a pleasure to meet you.

[ Said with one hand offered for a shake. The words are more a formality than anything else, but there's a hint of genuine emotion too. ]

And no, I've been in Olympia for about two months now. [ Give or take a week. ] How are you liking it here so far, Randel?

[toten_sie]

[ Her politeness gets a nod back.

But he isn't sure how to answer that. Mostly because he's spent a good portion of his time since he woke up just thinking how unfair it was. Not that his world had been destroyed, because there's no fairness in something like that, just facts. But that he would be the one to wake up. It should have been the Lieutenant. Or any one of the others, really. ]

It's very nice. Different, but not in the ways that matter.

What about you?

[strictdiscipline]

[ "Nice but different." A close enough approximation of how she would have described it all and she nods. ]

It's much the same, for myself. It doesn't feel like home, even though this is supposed to be home now.

[ But for her, home has always been about people rather than a single fixed location. And as much as she's enjoyed the company of the people she's met here thus far, it's not the same and will never be the same.

No point in dwelling on that though. ]

Was your original home similar to this place then?

[toten_sie]

[ He'd been settling to look at the ocean again, but her question brings him up short. ]

I guess so. There were a lot of refugees there too. We'd just ended a long war. The unit I worked for helped to provide war relief for the people, so it's a little strange to be on the other side of things.

[strictdiscipline]

[ The mention of 'war' sobers her, as it always does, her expression turning sorrowful. She knows very little about other worlds still, even after all these weeks spent among Refugees of all backgrounds, but it's disheartening to know that violence is just as common anywhere else.

'Unit' he says, and in conjunction with his uniform, out of place on the beach, it makes her wonder. ]

Did you serve in the military as well?

[toten_sie]

[ He nods easily enough. The military has been his reality since he was a teenager. He still hasn't really figured out how to properly leave the battlefield. ]

901 ATT unit previously and Section III Pumpkin Scissors unit currently.

[ Except- ]

Or... I guess more recently.

[strictdiscipline]

[ She nods along, understanding, right up until— ]

"Pumpkin Scissors"?

[ What a strange name for a unit. ]

[toten_sie]

[ He blinks before considering how to put it. After all, the Lieutenant usually was the one to explain it. She'd picked the name. ]

All units in the Intelligence Branch are named after blades.

But we provide war relief. The lieutenant says our job is also to cut through the rind of corruption that separates the powerful from justice. Only then... only then can the damage of the war truly be fixed.

[ He'd gotten a little emotional at the end there, as much from missing the Lieutenant as from the fact that he genuinely believed, both in her and the mission. ]

[strictdiscipline]

[ Emotional he might have become, but it's a touching sight all the same, hearkening back to days long past, when she'd been inspired by much the same thing. She smiles, fondly but sadly. ]

It's a good job. [ One she backs too, though in a different place and time. ] Will you still follow that dream, even here?

[toten_sie]

[ He nods without even pausing, because of course he would. War relief was... well, it was his salvation in a lot of ways. It was how he might find his own way back off of the battlefield that still raged inside his mind. ]

I'm going to try and prepare for when the others wake up. And do what I can while they're still sleeping.

[strictdiscipline]

[ Perhaps it's the fact that he doesn't hesitate in answering, or maybe it's just the genuine emotion in his voice. Either way, the answer's soothing to hear, and for a moment she almost feels like she's back home.

Almost.

But they're here on the beach, surrounded by strange partygoers and not their friends and teammates. Still. She offers him a quiet smile. ]

If you need any assistance, let me know.

[toten_sie]

[ That has him pausing, as if he can't think of anything, but then he realizes he can think of something. ]

Do you know if there's anything like that here? Not the... not the cutting, maybe. But do do you know if they take volunteers for helping with refugee relief?

[strictdiscipline]

[ Relief is not her specialty nor is it Koralle's - at least, not in his particular definition of the word - but Riza hums lightly all the same as she thinks through the options available. ]

There is a woman called Lysa in the city, who provides medical care and similar services to those who need it. She would be a good person to direct your questions to.

[toten_sie]

[ He bows his head, nodding and thanking her both. ]

I will. Thank you.

[ But he doesn't want to leave or stop talking to her. He's not great at this, but he can try. ]

What is it you do here?