EVENT ★ EXPLORATION

[futurologists]

With the storm gone, the water surrounding Komo has calmed considerably. Much of the affected area is in ruins, but thanks to ALASTAIR, a large contingent of Komo survived the disaster. However, with parts of Komo uninhabitable, they need to be able to reach Nalawi’s other islands. With their technology so limited due to dependence on their Gifts, it’s all they can do to build a few tiny, shoddy canoes, powered solely by elbow grease. They only fit two regular-sized people (but four Nalawi), and the wait time is long, but they do the trick. If you aren't willing to wait, you can always try to get creative. Strangely, though, anyone trying to use their magic to cross the waters will find that their powers are beginning to dampen. Similarly, anyone with superhuman abilities at all will find them waning, albeit at different rates. Those without any special powers at all will be completely unaffected. But that's nothing to worry about, right? It’s time to see the rest of Nalawi. PU’ULAI PU’ULAI is the centermost island of the archipelago and by far the largest. Most of the travel between islands is to and from Pu’ulai, as it’s the cultural hub of Nalawi and the location of Nalanni’s largest temple. It’s very populated during the day, but isn’t a residential area and clears out once the sun goes down. The first thing you'll notice is that the deer hate cats. The citizens of Komo are far more likely to let it go, but if you have anything slightly cat-looking with you here, at best, you'll be yelled at. Some Nalawi try to start fights, and no one but Komoans will allow cats anywhere near their homes or inns. Recruits might notice children running away from cats, screaming, "Dakal!" THE TEMPLE, referred to as Nalanni’s Garden, is closest to the Nalalona volcano on a neighboring island. The regular ash from it was viewed as a good omen from Nalanni, who’s rumored to live within the volcano, but it’s been months since anyone has seen any activity from it. The temple is dark as obsidian, which is coincidentally what it’s made of. There’s a copious amount of brightly colored flowers around the temple, hence the name. The gardens are free for anyone to walk through, as is the temple. One image is constant throughout the temple: an inhumanly large, vaguely feminine being made in stone and fire, a walking volcano. It would be easy for such a woman to look frightening, but she looks welcoming and caring, arms outstretched to embrace her children. Inside the temple are more murals of Nalanni, but also some curiously unrelated to her. They depict the Nalawi fighting against large, predatory cat-creatures, finally culminating in their enemies attacking Nalalona. This is when Nalanni reappears, striking them down. The temple is tended to by several Nalawi of varying ages, all very welcoming to strangers, especially those they’ve heard heroic tales of. News traveled fast once the Komo villagers crossed the waters and spread the news of their timely rescuers. There are plenty of Nalawi in the temple, making offerings and asking Nalanni to return to them -- some are hopeful, but others appear desolate. CITY HALL is where the ten members of the Council convene. No one is allowed in, as they’ve been discussing the changing state of Nalawi nonstop for days. There’s a group gathered around the hall each day, hoping their leaders will emerge and announce their plans, but nothing has happened yet. It’s a good chance to sit around and listen, though -- you’ll quickly find out that Nalawi is a meritocracy; the Council have the strongest Gifts of anyone in Nalawi, determined by a nationwide competition to prove their worth every time a seat opens. Some of the more disgruntled deer whisper that some must have lost their powers by now and no longer deserve to sit on the Council. A few arguments are beginning to break out around the city hall, and even a few scuffles. Luckily, their weakened powers have also dampened the damage they’re able to deal, and no one has been injured too badly. Just try to be respectful -- otherwise, you might upset the wrong person. Those hooves can hurt. ELSEWHERE, there's a marketplace where traditional Nalawi clothing can be bought, among other things, inactive spas shut down due to dormant volcanoes, and maybe -- if you’re very lucky -- you’ll stumble upon a ferry that still works. It’s unlikely, though, and haggling with its owner will be difficult. You could always steal it, but you wouldn’t do that, would you? You can always explore the SURROUNDING ISLANDS, which are mostly residential areas, similar in theme to the parts of Komo that haven't been destroyed. Oh, and if you're disrespectful to the islanders or were at any point rude to the people in Komo, you might wake up to find a bunch of tiny, adorable Nalawi around your bed, swinging around bars of soap in socks. Don't worry, they won't actually do anything but threaten you for a minute before storming out. ...Yet. The moral of the story is 'don't mess with the Nalawi.' OOC INFO The entire map of Nalawi is now available to characters. Updated location information can be found here.

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[ninmu]

[ Melan is in the marketplace, as well, not that he's hard to miss; the tall, robust humanoid sticks out like a sore thumb amongst the diminutive deerfolk. Rather than medicine, he's looking for food, predictably, but the stalls are unexpectedly barren. To someone unfamiliar with magic, the scarcity seems hard to believe. Surely they could hunt and gather without it...?

Well, he doesn't know, and, currently, it's not his problem. He's holding a native fruit of some kind in his claspers that he accidentally intimidated a shopkeep out of. He has no idea what it is, but, hopefully, it's tasty and nutritious. Before he can take a bite, though, he notices one of his fellow recruits looking... not great. ]

You look fatigued. [ carefully, he uses his sword to lift up the cloth that was on the ground, putting it on the stall. It's still in a lump, but at least it's not in the dirt. ] Are you ill?

[headlining]

Oh, do I? [He says, squinting up at Melan like a person with a hangover opening up the curtains to see the blinding light of the sun.] Was it that obvious?

[He can't help it - sarcasm is already something that comes naturally to him, and in this state, it's easy to let his grumpy side take the reins. He hates people seeing him like this. He finally tears his eyes away from Melan, moving his gaze to the fruit in Melan's claspers.]

No, I'm fine. [He says, gruffly. It's obviously a lie.] I just need a minute to catch my breath, that's all.

[ninmu]

[ his hard head is as good at deflecting sarcasm as it is bullets. Melan hardly notices; in fact, when Keats asks if it was obvious, he just nods. Yes. Yes, it was. At least he's not so exhausted that he can't speak or think straight. ]

Your immune system may be fighting foreign microbes. You should rest. [ humans are delicate, after all!

The glance at his fruit doesn't go unnoticed, either. After a moment, Melan holds it out to Keats, tendrils extending with the sound of uncoiling wires. ]

[headlining]

What are you, my doctor? I didn't ask for a diagnosis...and an obvious one at that.

[He sneers - who even says microbes, anymore? He has the urge to push himself up in spite of his condition, but even just shifting to do so makes his head spin. Guess he's stuck here.]

[He raises an eyebrow at the offered fruit.]

I'm not hungry. [He is.] It's fine, you can have it, I was just wondering what it was.

[ninmu]

Sorry.

[ Sneering and rude words don't seem to have an effect on him. He apologizes, but his expression is the same as it always is, and he simply pulls his "paws" back, bringing the odd-looking fruit in towards his chassis once more. ]

I thought it might help if you ate something. [ eating something always makes him feel better...! ] I don't know what it is, either. It is a fruit native to this planet. I think it's edible.

[headlining]

...I'll be alright.

[He's going to be the opposite of alright.]

A fruit, eh? [He gives Melan a curious look, shifting on his seat and folding his arms.] How can a guy like you eat, I wonder? I mean, I remember you told me what you were before, but still, it's a bit weird. I wouldn't think you'd need sustenance like the rest of us.

[ninmu]

[ yeah, Melan looks a little skeptical, but since he's a stranger, he won't pry. Humans can be unpredictable. ]

My body needs energy to function, just like yours, [ he replies simply. ] I obtain it from food.

[ and lots of it, too. ]

I can give you half.

[headlining]

[There is the longest pause.]

[And then, finally, he outstretches a hand.]

Okay, fine. Fine. Give me half. Don't know what good it'll do me, but might as well get something into my stomach to keep me running.