❪ 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

𝕵𝖊𝖓𝖌𝖆

[moneytwin]

[ There's a short bubble of laughter, a shove at ribs as he squeezes too tightly, but she's not pushing him away, not really. She has her brother here, she has so many of her family here--not all, however, something that is clearly evident as her head pops up, eyes pricking at the corners as she sweeps the group, and then the crowd.

Brown eyes meet Pike's then, a mou of sympathy forming. Grog's looming presence and Scanlan's saucy quips stand out for the lack of them, and she leans into Vax a little as she watches Keyleth detach from the all encompassing hug and envelope them individually. She can't help but smile when she and Percy hug, a twist of envy at the comfortably casual action digging deep within her breast, one she's quick to ignore. He--They, are here. It's enough. ]

I'd say so. We should be grateful it works every time.

[ The cleric's question to the druid does turn her attention, however, Vex giving her a once over, then noting the stickers. House 79 - well, that's convenient. And consistant. And they'd have all stuck together regardless of their assignments. Still. There's...Something different about Keyleth, not the least being the hair cut, more than just the fluster and the tears, and as she looks again at her friends, more little details seem to pop into notice for member of the group. (..when did Vax get feathers to match hers..?)

Then attention snaps back.]

You have a house..? Keyleth, did you get here before us? [how much sooner before us?]

[pause, then a casual sideglance at the crowd around them] ..Perhaps we should go find ours, and you can tell us the details.

jͬ̑͊͌̔en͛ͬ͊̏̀̈gͭ̔̃̅̾a̓̃̽̔ͩ̾̚

[decisions]

[ truth be told, percy hadn't realized the fact that they were settled all together until keyleth mentioned it, and now he glances from tag to tag, half out of curiosity, mostly for reassurance. they're here. really here. keyleth smooths down the unsettled fabric of his coat and he nearly bats her hands away in favor of crushing her to him, something he hasn't felt the need to do in.

well.

a very long time. there's a rush of relief straight from him seeing her now, unharmed and whole. and even as he passes between everyone he can actually get his hands on, that relief grows double. it's almost overwhelming and for a time, percy isn't sure how to process this much emotion. rage and anguish by the barrel, but this much love is stifling (in the best way.) vax's hand on his shoulder is welcomed by his own hand, clasping fast over it tightly.

(does anyone go unhugged by percy? probably not. are you going to breathe a word about it? you'd better not. 👀)

this is about as real as anything gets, right? he rests a hand lightly on keyleth's shoulder. one last bit of reassurance. ]

That sounds like a good plan, [ he nods to vex. ] this matter is probably best discussed away from the public and not in the middle of a busy street.

[ where there are a few people actually stopping to watch. not that this is anything new. vox machina has no doubt probably drawn a crowd or two before but this is a little different isn't it... ]

j̨̢̞̤̭̠̬̦̯͍e̢̢̡͍̫͍͖̞̻̙n̨̨̟̻͚̳̲̣͈̣g̢͎̝̖̭̬͇̯̭͜a̖̼̜͓̥͍̙

[hraefnes]

[ vax looks up when the housing bit is mentioned, eyeing everyone's tags and then keyleth's lack of one. he doesn't like the way his stomach kind of drops with it, leaning back out of the hug to actually take a look around them now. he doesn't take his arm from around vex, or the hand on percy, but he does lean back just a hair from the hug itself. needing to check the area before he can lean back into the group.

it's vex's question that suddenly has his grin dropping, confusion and concern crossing his eyes. before them? was that possible? he was just with her, but even still, she looks so different. and he feels like he's really seeing it now, in the details, in the way she's looking at all of them. it's a few moments of wide-eyed staring before he realizes they're all looking to move, and vax releases his hold on the group - reluctantly, maybe, but no one is going anywhere, so that momentary panic is unfounded and unnecessary.

so they all unlatch, limbs returning to their rightful owner, and vax is still watching keyleth. still trying to put his finger on exactly what looks off. ]

Anyone have any idea where we need to head towards? [ the question is directed to the group, because unless he's totally lost, they all arrived relatively recently. the eyes on the group haven't escape his notice, and after a moment he turns to make very direct eye contact with a few of them and smiles a bit as he watches them hustle off.

because vex is right. this is all something they can talk about somewhere more private. ]

j♥e♥n♥g♥a♥

[trickfoot]

[Hugs exchanged, all of them as tight as she can muster. She'll deal with her own bit of sadness later, because it's something she's dealt with before. There's always a bit of her hart that breaks when they go off without her - she's assured herself that it's always for the best, because in the end people get to see how wonderful Sarenrae is, but then the loneliness settles in.

She lights up at the mention of the house. Finally, something she can do.]

Oh, I do! I've already seen where the house is. Or rather the general direction.

[The gnome might have done a bit of exploring after she had first seen Percy. She pushes her way through the group, heading in the general direction the residential district was in.] This way, come on, keep up!

ⒿⒺⓃⒼⒶ

[zephrah]

[ Keyleth had just opened her mouth to give direction--because, well, yes, she knew exactly where the housing area was, she'd lived there for a while now--but Pike spoke up first, and Keyleth was perfectly happy to let her take the lead. She loops an arm through Percy's, laces her fingers tightly with Vax's and pulls them with her as she hurries after Pike, which isn't hard, because Pike is amazing in oh so many ways but she will always be loud and have little gnome-sized legs.

It's just like old times. They could easily be in Emon right now, on their way back to Greyskull from Allura's tower, or a council meeting, or a jaunt to a pub. The thought brings forth a smile, albeit a smile tinged with melancholy; nothing will ever be that simple again. She brings the hand clasped with Vax's up to her cheek, gently pressing her skin to his skin and breathing a quiet, shaky sigh. ]

I missed you guys. Nothing's been the same without you.

ꀭꍟꈤꁅꍏ

[moneytwin]

[ Vex does not move to stand next to Percy.

Tucking herself in on the other side of her brother, the ranger can't help but be cheered by Pike taking the lead, her own gaze sweeping the crowd as the few fleeing Vax's stare melt into the throng. She doesn't feel threatened here, especially not now she has her family with her, and her usual swagger of confidence begins making its return as they move past the market, and towards the residential region. ]

I can only imagine, dear. [Vex would have been beside herself in Keyleth's shoes, if not cranky as hell without her twin] How long have you been here?

j͔̲̜̜͇̱̗̪̘̾͗̿̿̚͘e̛̘̥͚̣̰͖̞̤ͭ͂n̖͓͇ͣͫͨg̨̡̲̥͓͓̪̤̿ͫͮ̓aͤͧͣ

[decisions]

[ more zalgo i give up

percy keeps pace at keyleth's side as pike leads the way, adjusting the strap of bad news along his shoulder with his other hand and leaning comfortingly into her shoulder for just one more moment. this familiarity of falling into step with the group is something that he's missed the moment they awoke aboard that strange ship. that place is far stranger than this one, where the streets are only slightly paved and the slightly cramped scenery is far more reminiscent of home.

sans dragons, which is actually pretty great.

for the time being, percy takes up his typical mantle of observant silence, eyes very much focused on her. he's content to listen to keyleth relay her tale to the lot of them as pike takes point. ]

ɐƃuǝɾ

[hraefnes]

[ pike takes the lead, and for a moment vax just nearly feels like everything has fallen back in place. he knows that couldn't be further from the truth, not with so many of them still missing and the whole deal with the end of their world leading them here, but it just nearly feels that way. pike up just ahead, keyleth's hand in his, and vex tucked into his other side as they start walking - it's comfortable. it's easy. it's familiar.

or. well. almost.

he still can't shake something being off with keyleth, and she brings his hand up to her cheek, he almost goes ahead and asks. but then there's vex, asking important, less private questions, and vax decides to leave it at squeezing her hand instead. ]

You said you knew we were all here. Have you had time to walk around? [ and then, with a slight, playful smirk. ] You haven't already gone and gotten into trouble without us, have you?

ʝɛռɢǟ

[trickfoot]

[Pike's content to let them all talk while she leads.

She'll listen though, so she knows the tone of the group, and most importantly, Keyleth. Keyleth waking up before all of them makes her wonder why she woke up before the rest of them, and why Scanlan and Grog still hadn't. Grog was the strongest she knew, and having the big guy not there with her made her heart ache.

But like always, Pike acted like nothing was wrong, that she was happy enough to have who was awake right now. She was, of course. She would always be happy to be surrounded by those she loved.]

j⃣ e⃣ n⃣ g⃣ a⃣

[zephrah]

Oh, um...hm.

[ Keyleth's head tilts back slightly, gaze lifting to the sky as if time can be measured by the shade of blue or the shape of the clouds. Really, it's just hard to remember. So much happened and then kept happening. It's been a lot to deal with and a lot to take in and she's sure they all know the feeling very well, how time just has so little meaning in the midst of chaos. Mere minutes can feel like hours, hours can feel like days. How long has it been since they sent her down here...? ]

I-it's been about...three months, I guess? Give or take a few weeks?

I visited all of you as much as I could, up there, while you were sleeping. [ Oops that sounds a little creepy, hi you guys I missed you I watched you while you slept. ] I mean, not, not all the time--I just wanted to make sure you were all still okay.

ۆﾼﾢɢΔ

[moneytwin]

[ Eyes follow Pike's back, lips pursing as the gnome pushes forwards through the crowds to lead them towards the residences. They're all worried for Scanlan and Grog, of course they are, but Pike no doubt misses them the most.

Then her head snaps round almost comically, eyes wide as Keyleth lets slip just how long she's been here.

Vex knows she was the one to suggest waiting to talk about this, but: ]

Three months?! But, but how is that possible?

[ She certainly doesn't feel like she'd been asleep, let alone for that long. Almost unerringly, brown eyes look past Keyleth, towards Percy. Almost unshakably certain that if someone could figure this out, he could. ]