❪ 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

[politrick]

You know, it's odd that someone else lost all their jewels in the exact same spot you did.

[He's just saying. He doesn't move to duck back under the water, but he doesn't move to do anything else, either. He's just floating out here, looking at Wrathion, considering.]

I suppose we're both lucky I don't much care where these things wind up. [And now he will pop down to see what else he can find, there he goes.]

[deathstiny]

[Wrathion's expression becomes increasingly unimpressed the longer he stares, but once he is back underwater, he lets out a small chuckle. If he's still cooperating, he supposes he can forgive being found in a lie.

But he's definitely not going to admit it either way. And as long as they're laying everything on the table:]

So. You are a mage? Or simply born of magical blood?

[He'll wait until he has surfaced again to ask that question. He might be able to sense magic but -- well, he wasn't psychic. No way to tell its origin. Perhaps it was simply residue.

But he doubts it.]

[politrick]

[How stubborn. And yet Merlin is apparently encouraging it, as he surfaces with another goddamn gem in his hands. Just one, though; he won't encourage it that much.

But, oh-] I— both? I was born with magic, of course I can use it.

[That sure was one hell of a non-sequitur, though.]

[deathstiny]

[Look, if he has to give up his helpless civilian act, he's gonna learn about this clever little man in front of him. He's certain nobody else would have bothered to notice the coincidence -- he's too confident.]

I have tried not to assume. There are so many different sorts floating about.

[He lifts his fingers in preparation to catch the gem he's brought, but this time he is smiling.]

Some learn to tap the leylines, some are magic by blood, and yet others are cursed with it. You understand.

[politrick]

[Yeah it was really a rock solid scheme, for sure. Merlin tosses him the gem almost as an afterthought, now that they're talking about magic - he has priorities.]

"Cursed" is a bit harsh. [He frowns, but then he thinks of Freya—damned with bestial magic that brought nothing but suffering from simple-minded, hateful people. Hmm. Well,] There's nothing wrong with having magic.

[Magic Is In All Things, etc.]

[deathstiny]

I could hardly disagree with you on that point. But surely you have encountered the more unnatural sort.

[Magic twisted to evil purpose -- but if it had been brought into the world that way, was it really twisted at all?]

The undead. The void, and the shadow. Corrupting magics. In my experience, such creatures are often proud to be curses upon themselves and others.

[Like his entire goddamn family.]

[politrick]

Sure, but that isn't— hang on, I'm still waist-deep and it's freezing out here.

[Bear with him while he wades back to shore. That last gem will come one day. He's here to start wringing water out of his shirt while he goes on,] Magic isn't to blame for what people do with it. It just... is, like- like air. The air isn't evil if someone smells something unpleasant.

[This is not the best analogy, but work with him.]

[deathstiny]

[He can't tell -- one of the perks of being a dragon. So he just sits and looks up at Merlin while he wrings himself out. The manner in which he speaks about magic is intriguing.

Perhaps it worked differently, where he was from.]

Magic isn't a living creature.

[His expression gets a little suspicious. Sure, there were exceptions to that rule but -- that was long and complicated.]

And there are schools of magic that only exist to corrupt, poison, and kill. The Fel, for example.

[He says it like a curse -- if the word sounded any different, it might have been a hiss.]

[politrick]

I don't know what that is. [He shrugs, a little guiltily for not knowing - he's already had more than one conversation (and his fair share of arguments, honestly) about what magic is like in other worlds, and yet he still puts himself in the situation of saying something and then walking it back. Oops.

But it's hard to change his opinions on magic as a whole, so while he continues this laborious squeezing task here-] And I know magic isn't a creature. I'm not some kind of village idiot palming coins and calling it magic.

[He knows what he's talking about!!] There are herbs in nature that do the same things to men who eat them. Plants aren't evil.

[deathstiny]

But plants are living, and therein lies the difference.

[This time, he does smirk, because he really only says it to be the biggest pain in the ass possible. But when he does, he stands and raises his hands in a gesture of surrender.

Sort of.]

You come to its defense as if it were a living creature. Were you a practitioner of fel magic, you would be deserving of my scrutiny -- and everyone else's -- because you would only ever be using it to destroy. It has never served any other purpose.

[He points.]

That is why I ask. If your world was free of such influence, then Titans be praised.

[But also, fuck them, because Azeroth was a shit show because of the Fel and the Void.]

[politrick]

[Merlin makes a face like he's already got a great rebuttal for that nitpicking, but he frowns a little more aggressively at his shirt for a moment instead. He's learning how to not get baited into silly arguments...]

Using it and having it are completely different things. [That's the point he's trying to make, somewhere under all of his Magic Is Everywhere romanticism. He knows it doesn't have a beating heart, but it's easier to talk about that way... somehow.

Look, he just has a lot of feelings.]

There is dark magic in my world... but if it isn't a living creature, someone with magic had to make it destructive in the first place. That's all.

[deathstiny]

[Its very charming, Merlin.]

No offense meant, of course.

[Being so enraptured with magic must be quite an existence -- he imagines his blue cousins might feel similarly, if they weren't so wrapped up in keeping mortals from immolating themselves with it.]

Merlin, was it? You may call me Wrathion.

[politrick]

[Hmm. He doesn't get the feeling his point's being agreed with, here - but that's probably fine. It doesn't have to resonate with other people as much as it does with him; it didn't in Camelot, either.

At this point he gives up on drying his clothes through wringing and sits down on the sand, to get a good wrinkly air dry in. This went great.]

Wrathion. Alright. [...] I'm not going to demand you put the jewels back, just so you know.

[They can both just know that he Knows, that will do.]

[deathstiny]

I did not plan on it. And I do not think you would find it pleasant to try and force me.

[But he know's an olive branch when he sees it. So, after a brief check to make sure they are alone in the cove, he breathes into his outstretched palm and calls a small molten orb of fire in his palm to keep his new acquaintance warm.]

And I meant what I said. You can keep the small ones.

[Consider it your quest reward.]

[politrick]

Well, I don't need... [Yeah cool free gems but, breathing fire— Merlin might be a bottomless spring of magic but his ability to sense it on others is more or less not there. He wasn't expecting any fire breathing!]

Can you tell me more about your magic?

[Is that subtle? Is he too eager?? He's only a tiny bit starry-eyed already.]

[deathstiny]

[Luckily, starry eyed is exactly what this dragon likes. Merlin's focus on the fire coaxes a pleased grin out of him, and Wrathion relaxes a little more. He could talk about himself all day -- so long as certain topics were avoided.]

That depends on what you wish to know. I too was born with it -- as all of my kind are.

[politrick]

[He's starry-eyed, alright. Maybe because he keeps staring at magic fire.]

Anything—tell me anything. You're not just a sorcerer, are you?

[deathstiny]

Oh Titans no. I am a dragon.

[Not...that he can prove it now. It smarts a little, enough that his smile flickers off his face briefly.]

I find that mortals prefer to interact with this form. The short form of the story is that our sires, the five Dragon Aspects, were charged with the nurturing and defense of our home planet -- to that end, they were blessed with great power by the Titans themselves. Thus, we are capable of spells beyond most practiced arcane knowledge.

[He knows a lot, but not the ins and outs of how it works. Merlin will have to find a blue dragon if he wants that information.]

[politrick]

[There are so many words there that he doesn't know the story behind but it honestly doesn't matter, apparently, given the way his face lights up when Wrathion says he's a dragon. A dragon! That's his second dragon today! And Wrathion seems more than just a leg, which was a little strange, anyway—]

What kind of idiot prefers to see another person when they could speak with a dragon? [Merlin doesn't prefer this form... It's an alright form, but dragon.] Of course you can do magic beyond sorcery— it's the same in Camelot.

[For all... two dragons left, one of which is an infant, never mind. So, uh. He's impressed, anyway.]

[deathstiny]

[This--he is not used to this.

Sure, he thinks he is the best thing since sliced bread, and almost everyone could acknowledge his great power. But genuine admiration?

He isn't quite sure how to respond. And he is more than a little suspicious.]

It's--complicated, I suppose.

[Oh dear, now he doesn't want to ruin it by telling the truth -- that all black dragons, save for him, were positively insane. That the black Dragon Aspect had gone mad, abandoned his charge, and sundered the world using his terrible power.

This is nicer.]

Even our youngest can be as large as most full grown species.

[politrick]

[He just loves dragons, okay!! It's literally in his blood, but he loved dragons before he knew about that particular inclination - that's what he gets for befriending the last adult dragon in the world.]

Right. Well— they wouldn't have to take the train? [Ha... jokes. He shifts to hug his still-damp legs up against his chest, looking at Wrathion with even more of that genuine admiration. He can't help it...]

One of my closest friends is a dragon. Everything I've learned about dragons came from him, and it's all so different in other places...

[deathstiny]

[Right. Merlin's got jokes. Wrathion chooses not to point out that he would not allow just any mortal on his back.

But then he looks down at that starry eyed stare again, and the line of his shoulders relaxes a hair.]

How many other dragons have you met, exactly?

[He thinks of Anduin, briefly, and of some of Azeroth's great champions that had come to him for aid. He supposes it is not that difficult to imagine another dragon befriending a mortal in earnest.]

[politrick]

Two. One of them was just a baby—I saw her hatch.

[Is he technically a dragon dad, since he helped with that? Dragon stepdad? He's not sure. Skipping that.

Now he considers, looking down at the ground and sticking his fingers in the sand to have something to fiddle with while he debates. Well...] They're the only two true dragons left.

[deathstiny]

[Rest assured, Merlin, dragons do not imprint. At least, not on Azeroth.]

Just two...red? Bronze?

[He might have been the last Black Dragon, but it had taken considerable work to get there. The blues might have been nearly extinct at one point, but that was no longer the case.

Imagining a world with only two dragons is...somewhat daunting. Then again, he supposed that...he may very well be the last dragon from Azeroth, if none of the others rise from the pods.

Hm.]

...only two altogether?

[politrick]

[Merlin frowns; apparently the color matters in other worlds, and maybe it did once back home—before Uther ruined everything for everyone across the board. So.]

Just two. The little one is white, the old one—Kilgharrah, my friend—is... greyish? Bluish? Darker, certainly. I didn't know that made a difference.