❪ 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

noooo worries ahh i hope youre feeling betteir!

[adelphoi]

[ yeah, remember those ninja turtles she was telling you about? they're awesome pals. but maybe she'll explain that if he asks later. for the moment, she just nods.

and then she dives quickly and easily, and the water is clear and bright enough that it's easy to see all around them; it soon becomes apparent just why this is a popular diving spot. she stops to tread water, casting her gaze this way and that. ]

It's beautiful.

i am not but i'll get theire

[crosspear]

[Explaining would be better left to the above world, he thinks. He can't exactly engage in discussion down here where it's wetter, but he's not going to complain. Even if it would be nice to swim completely free from the device on his back, it's still a wonder to see such magic in action.

He nods again, following her gaze while also taking a look for himself. If he were to come down here with a harpoon, he'd be able to catch so many fish. So many of them are shapes and colors he's never seen in fish before, and a school of silvery fish below him and rapidly swimming away from him seem similar.

But it's the sight of a hulking blue-grey shadow in the distance that catches his eye next. If Alisaie hasn't seen it yet, he points that way—that must be the ship he heard others talking about. The other swimmers seem to be avoiding it. Bad rumors, maybe?]

godspeeid

[adelphoi]

[ alisaie isn't much of a fisher, her sword is for stabbing her enemies, so her thoughts aren't going in quite the same direction. mostly she's just enjoying the scenery, and it reminds her so very much of the ruby sea that it's enough to make her heart ache painfully in her breast, heavy and bittersweet.

but then he's gesturing, and she turns in the water to see what he's pointing toward - oooh. yes. clearly she seems unperturbed by the fact that no one is really swimming there, so she's quick to beckon him and move toward it.

ADVENTURE. ]

[crosspear]

[ADVENTURE!

Once he's gotten her attention, he starts to swim for it as well. Part of him feels a little naked underwater—it's not because he's shirtless, though. Being so used to using the wind to sense what's around him leaves him shut off underwater. He's not uncomfortable, per se, but it'd be nice to have that same sixth sense here as he does above the water. Because sharks.

As they approach the shipwreck, it becomes clearer and clearer in front of them. Gaius' face shows surprise; it's so well-preserved that they could easily swim in and take a look around the rooms. Alisaie would have an easier time of it than he would, but as long as his oxygen lasts he should be fine.

He points down towards it. What are your thoughts, friend who can still speak?]

[adelphoi]

[ alisaie, on the other hand, feels quite comfortable here. she's been swimming since she was very young, and she's always loved it (due in part to the fact that it's something the could easily best her twin brother in) and she seems entirely at home down here. it's likely evident enough by the smile on her face. ]

Come now, we haven't come all this way just to stare at it!

[ OF COURSE we're going in!! she swims a little closer, nearer to a gaping hole in the side of the hull. ]

Not frightened, are you?

[crosspear]

[He's not scared in the least. Are there giant spiders inside? You know, that's an actual possibility, but not even that would stop him. He would laugh if he could, you know, speak underwater. But he still can't. Instead, he only smiles and shakes his head before swimming after her and under the hull.

Diving so deep is a new experience for him, but he's amazed that the oxygen is still flowing as they enter. Even his ears and eyes aren't bothered—modern swimming technology is amazing, and holy shit is that a dragon skeleton? His eyes go wide, but there's no way Alisaie isn't noticing it the same time he does.

Without wasting a second, he's swimming over to it. It's very, very clearly dead. Chances of it being a zombie dragon seem so small.]

[adelphoi]

[ don't wish giant spiders on us.. gross underwater spiders... no thanks....................

a dragon corpse, though, that's certainly interesting. like gaius, alisaie is moving toward it with clear interest and no sense of self-preservation, because i mean, it's probably fine. but gods, how long has it been here? the bones are bleached, the flesh gone, algae clinging to it all.

neat. ]

I wonder how long he's been down here. It's enormous..

[crosspear]

[Gaius would choose the word 'fascinating' himself, but they're thinking the same things. He's still swimming closer so that he (well, they. he assumes Alisaie is right on his heels...right on his flippers? at all times) can investigate the gleam coming from the dragon's mouth.

And it's just amazing. The teeth are brilliant, shining in ways he's never known a tooth to smile. He nods at enormous.

Then, without much warning, he pulls something out of his pocket and presses it against one of the teeth. Without wasting too much effort, he's able to use pressure and leverage to pop one of the teeth into his hand.

He'd offer it to her, but he looks at her expectantly. She probably has a cool way to free one of those herself, doesn't she.]

[adelphoi]

[ in the moment, alisaie is more interested in that contraption in his hand than the dragon skeleton - she's seen those before, after all, but what he's carrying is something new entirely.

how does it work??

but... no she doesn't have some cool way to get one of these teeth out, at least not while she doesn't have her crystal focus on her. a nice good explosion might have worked, but alas. elbow grease it is. with her feet braced against the jawbone, alisaie snags a tooth in two hands and gives a mighty tug, but it's really in there. ]

What in the world is that funny little thing?

[crosspear]

[He'd be more than happy to explain. It's what allows a human like himself to use magic, after all. He's glad it's waterproof. If the dragon came to life or a shark showed itself, he could at least attempt to frighten it off with this thing.

But all that goes unsaid because there's no Quartz that allows for underwater breathing.

He smiles awkwardly around his breathing apparatus, pointing at it to remind her that he can't answer. He could demonstrate by creating an earthquake, but that hardly seems like a good idea underwater. He presses it to another tooth, looking at Alisaie for an answer. He's asking if she wants him to force another out. He's sure she can do it on her own, but he also doesn't want her to cut her hand.]

[adelphoi]

[ gosh gaius start being able to talk underwater already??

nevertheless, this tooth is not budging by brute strength alone, it seems, and by the time she finally pulls back in surrender her palms are aching. ]

Well all right then, go on.

[ huff ]

[crosspear]

[He would if he could. Not being able to feel the wind aside, he does love being underwater. If he could breathe and speak down here, it'd be pretty amazing.

But he can't. But what he can do is use his ARCUS to force out another tooth. He presses it against one that has en empty 'slot' next to it and forces it against the tooth again and again until it's forced out. Like before, he catches it before it sinks.

He holds it out for Alisaie to take. Come on, friend.]

[adelphoi]

Thank you.

[ at least she's not too proud to accept help when help is needed, she's only the tiniest bit chafed that she couldn't do it herself, mostly she's simply excited to have one for herself.

it's really something else, isn't it? she's seen a lot of things in her young life, all manner of strange creatures, but none with teeth quite like this. she turns it over in her hands a few times, watching the way the slanting sunlight plays over its shining surface. eventually she glances back up toward him though. ]

You'll have to tell me all about that funny little thing, later.

[crosspear]

[He shakes his head the first time. It's nothing, there's no need to thank him. He slides his ARCUS back into his pocket after that, though the chain still hangs out as he watches Alisaie examine the tooth. At her second statement, he nods. That's no problem for him as well.

He looks back at the one he picked up, then looks again at the dragon. He swims higher, grabbing onto one part of the skeleton and pointing at with his hand. The algaea. He's pointing at the algae and then the bone. And then he holds up the tooth to contrast.

He's trying to ask if she knows why the skeleton is so decrepit and aged while the teeth aren't. There has to be a reason for that difference, right?]

[adelphoi]

[ she can really only venture guesses. ]

I've no idea. It could be that the teeth are a composite of some substance that repels growth, or they've a protective coating that does the same.

[ she's studying it anew though, smoothing her palm over its glassy surface. ]

Without further study 'tis hard to say.

[crosspear]

[Without further study. He supposes he'll have to hand the tooth over to Lysa. He doesn't quite trust the institute, not with one of the rumors he'd heard. He'd even tried to find a way in once, but he was turned away at the door. Being dishonest isn't his strong suit.

But it sounds like they've got a few talking points. After they swim around for a while and observe more of the ship and its surroundings, Gaius will eventually point upward. Is she ready to surface and have a conversation? The boat's still drifting nearby.]

[adelphoi]

[ it's a good swim. alisaie enjoys diving even under normal circumstances, but underwater exploration is even better. who wouldn't enjoy a good swim in a shipwreck with a dragon?? alisaie certainly does.

but soon enough they've picked it over clean. alisaie has found a few more things, some shiny rocks and hidden gems, and an old tarnished fork that seems to be silver. she doesn't care for riches or profit, but these will be nice souvenirs to hold onto. by the time gaius is pointing upward though she's about ready to head up, so she nods and slips through the break in the hull again, kicking smoothly toward the surface and the boat. ]

[crosspear]

[Gaius is torn on whether or not to scavenge aside from the tooth. Obviously, people have been taking those. They aren't the first. He manages to grab one or two small things, small enough to fit in his pocket, and decides to leave the rest for others to explore and discover.

It's only a matter of minutes before he's pulling himself back up onto the boat. His hair hangs down more than usual because of its wetness, and he has to push some of it out of the way. A drippy Gaius is a happy Gaius, though.]

I didn't expect for the rumors to be that rewarding. I've never seen a shipwreck in this state before. Decayed, but salvageable. Did you enjoy yourself?

[adelphoi]

[ getting used to gravity again is a thing. alisaie hauls herself up right beside him onto the boat, though the sits at the edge so she can keep her legs in the water while she looks over her treasures.

the fork she sets aside, the gemstones she turns over in her hands, watching the sunlight dance over them. most of them are simple sea glass, but that hardly matters, they're pretty nonetheless - the others, a sapphire perhaps, and amethyst. she can't help but think of her brother. ]

Oh yes, absolutely.

[ pushing her dripping bangs from her face, her smiles reinforces her claim. ]

[crosspear]

[The only thing Gaius pulls out of his pocket is his ARCUS unit. Just as expected, it's waterproofed perfectly. Not a single drip of water comes from it. Even now, he's glad to have been part of Class VII, having access to this device. He imagines Alisaie will want to know soon; he hadn't expected something that looks like a large pocket-watch to get a reaction.]

I'm glad to hear it. I have to say, that magic you used is impressive. Or is it some sort of ability? I've never heard of anyone breathing underwater before.

[adelphoi]

I suppose it is some form of magic.

[ alisaie looks thoughtful, she hadn't really considered it before. ]

It's the blessing of the Kojin, given to us to help more easily traverse the Ruby Sea.

[ you remember, those ninja turtle guys she told you about. ]

[crosspear]

And it's not a blessing you can give to others, I'm guessing.

[It might be fun to explore underwater like that. Just saying. But Gaius' tone is fairly light, more suggesting it as a joke than a serious question.]

Whatever it is, it's incredible.

[adelphoi]

Unfortunately no, you'd need to receive it directly from the Kojin themselves.

[ and gods.. have any of them even survived? she certainly hopes so. there are so very many pods full of hydaelyn's children up there on thesa, she's not had time to look through each and every one. ]

It's quite convenient though, yes. I love to swim, so it's been a boon. [ and finally, gesturing toward his pocketwatch thingy- ] And pray tell, what does this do?

[crosspear]

That's too bad.

[But he'd already accepted that reality. Once the conversation shifts to the ARCUS unit, Gaius opens it. Inside, there's one large green gem. There are seven smaller gems of varying color that run in lines around the center one. It might be difficult to guess the gym from a distance, but they're all quartz.]

This is an ARCUS. Where I'm from, it's pretty uncommon to own one, but I was given one alongside the rest of my class. [It does say Thors Military Academy on the cover.] It's pretty useful. It boosts my strength in ways, and with the elemental orbments I can use my mana to cast Orbal Arts.