EVENT ★ WELCOME TO TERRA FELIS

[futurologists]

WELCOME TO TERRA FELIS Characters leave Woodhurst suddenly and without notice, but once they come out the other side of the rift, they aren't in Oska. Instead, they'll find themselves in the middle of a springtime meadow. Flowers are in bloom, the bright blue sky is above, and birds chirp overhead. And then there are the cats. From all sides of the meadow come housecats of all shapes and sizes, indistinguishable from mundane felines in every way until one of them speaks: "You're the third team today," it says in the calm, clear voice of a man. "Come along." CENTRUM COLONIAM Centrum Coloniam is the primary city of Terra Felis and is where the government, a constitutional monarchy, is located. Situated high above the ground, the city is accessible via teleportation pads located at guarded entrances all around its base; the teleportation pads to return to the ground are not guarded at all, and anyone may travel freely whenever they wish. Terra Felis operates on magitek, a complex combination of magic and technology that recruits should be familiar with: it's the same technology that runs Oska and the jewelcomms. Centrum Coloniam is lit by glowing, floating orbs that turn on automatically in the darkness, and its machinery seems to run itself, with only a few technicians scurrying about every now and then. The buildings all have tall, vaulted ceilings, as the cats prefer to walk along raised platforms rather than the floor, though furniture and utensils might give larger species (that's you) some difficulty. However, the cats receive enough visitors where most buildings (except private residences) have been situated with human-sized doorways, though if you're very tall, you may have to stoop a bit. All in all, characters ought to be relatively comfortable here if they have a good sense of humor -- though dogs or other canine companions will be met with suspicion if not outright hostility. Even enlightened sapient felines are not without their prejudices. The city of Centrum Coloniam is shaped like a circle, with the government in the center and four districts located to the north, east, south, and west. Radiating out from the city are four long spokes of parkland, separating each district. AREAS OF NOTE: ROYAL SQUARE. Where the Queen's opulent palace is located. She is much too busy to see visitors right now, but the Prime Minister, a plump persian, will greet anyone in her stead and answer any questions. Surrounding the palace in a circle are the parliamentary buildings and other governmental structures. ACADEMY SQUARE. To the north of the Royal Square is Academy Square, Terra Felis's university district and home to the Royal University. The cats focus mainly on scientific, mathematical, and magical pursuits, though there are smaller colleges for history and law. This is also where the library is located, though it is all nonfiction (and written in Latin), as the cats don't seem to have much use for entertainment. Also located within the Academy Square is the Royal Magitekkery, where the magitek specialists are hard at work developing new spells and technology. This is where the interdimensional rift machines are located, and where scientists and wizards are monitoring for news from Oska. If characters would like to ask more about magitek or inquire about Oska, they may speak to the Royal Scientist, a rather snobby sphynx. GROOMING DISTRICT. Home to many spas, salons, and other businesses focusing on individual pampering, the Grooming District is located to the east of the Royal Square and is where the majority of the locals are employed if they are not involved in politics or magitek. Though their primary clientele are, naturally, feline, they are largely excited to work on aliens and will do their best to provide whatever services they can. Of particular note are the Terra Felis spas, where soothing mud baths and shi-miatsu massage are very popular with their regular alien visitors. They also have natural hot springs available, though you'll have to wait for a Turkish Van to assist you, as all other spa attendants refuse to risk getting wet. RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT. Unless you are going to be roughing it down on the ground, your lodgings will be here at a hotel especially outfitted for human-sized visitors. The proprietress, a friendly tabby, will give you directions if you need them. Hotel rooms are outfitted with private bathrooms, a table and chairs, a vanity, and a television -- though the programming is primarily educational and news, except for the channel that plays nothing but endless videos of birds and fish, and the "alien station" which plays what appears to be soap operas starring bloblike creatures. The beds are probably the most unusual thing here for visitors -- although they're big enough for humanoids, they're just gigantic, fluffy cat beds. The houses here are not built for alien visitors larger than a cat, so if you make a friend, you'll have to visit them elsewhere. This district is also home to a number of shops and restaurants, though you might have trouble finding something to eat at the latter unless you live on a purely carnivorous diet. If you would like a little more variation in your meal, you will be offered a tray of wheatgrass; the kitchen at the hotel is staffed with cooks more accustomed to a human diet, so you might have better luck there. As cats are allergic to alcohol, there is no liquor in Terra Felis, but locals will offer you catnip on the sly if you mention you want something to help you loosen up. MUSEUM CAMPUS. The pride of Centrum Coloniam, the Museum Campus is located to the west of the Royal Square and home to museums covering everything from history to astronomy. (There is no art museum. If you were interested in seeing what cats consider art, the answer is nothing.) There is also a rather large and rather popular aquarium, as well as a zoo which features both native animals and animals from all across the galaxy. The zoo is home to an extremely complex breeding program, and the Royal Zookeeper, a scatterbrained black longhaired cat, is happy to explain their methods. Outside the city, the ground is home to meadows and forests, plus smaller villages for more rural cats. Characters are welcome to spend their time exploring the wilds if the city life isn't for them, where they may run into animals that one may expect to find in medieval Europe (deer, bears, wolves, etc). Apart from the cats, there is no other sapient species on the planet. OOC NOTES Welcome to Terra Felis! Contact with ALASTAIR NPCs remains mysteriously closed, and the native cat population has no idea what's going on with Oska either. Please use this post to plot amongst yourselves! The two other ALASTAIR teams in Terra Felis are Team Unicorn, an elite team of six (five humanoids and one talking kangaroo), and Team Ambrosia, a 20-recruit magic-focused team that consists of elves, humans, and satyrs. Unicorn had just begun their mission when they were suddenly rifted to Terra Felis, and Ambrosia was in the middle of what was apparently a very epic battle. Questions about Terra Felis can be directed here. You may also use this comment to ask (brief!) handwaved questions with cat NPCs. Questions about the game in general should be directed to the FAQ. You may also submit mission ideas or player plots at any time.

Comments

b

[keeper]

(( how many ways can Jespurr be caught, lessee ))

[ ....Well, not exactly.

With a start, Aqua only manages to grasp him by the wrist as he's going down—unfortunately, they've both got fairly long arms, not to mention he's over half a foot taller than her... So she doesn't really catch him so much as (barely) slow his descent to the floor, like an inexperienced stagehand lowering a particularly lanky prop.

He stops with a light bump, and she can only blink and utter a— ] S-Sorry.

[ She tried... She doesn't let go of his arm just yet, uncomfortably standing in place in case he needs help getting back up again... (This is... a little awkward...) ]

[endeudado]

(( there are infinite jespers, all ready to be caught by every passerby ))

[ it was a valiant effort, Aqua. One that honestly makes Jesper laugh once he's stopped being stunned by his less than graceful descent. The things a man's gotta do to avoid tripping on kittens... it's a tough being this tall. He lands on his hands and knees for the most part, hiding a sharp breath with a chuckle. ]

You'd win top honors for trying, if I had any of those to hand out.

[ He shakes his head, still laughing slightly as he pushes off from the ground to stand. Her support is especially appreciated here. Thanks for being short, Aqua, you make an excellent support beam. A cute one, too. ]

I appreciate it, anyway. Thanks for that. It gets hard to see them all from up here.

[keeper]

[ He seems nice enough about it, which is a small relief? (Aqua doesn't think anything bad of her own team, of course, but it's always a bit of a grab bag with recruits...) She relaxes somewhat and returns a slightly lopsided, slightly sheepish smile, which momentarily vanishes into Determination as she braces herself to help him off the floor. (Also when 5'7"-or-so is considered short... Please Jesper, not everyone can reach the great heights of a Zemeni sapling...) ]

Of course.

[ As soon as the young man's back on his feet, she quickly stoops down herself make sure no fur's been displaced on the Royal Zookeeper. (...Looks like Royal Zookeeper is having a royal nap. Which is a relief, really.) She glances up to him to signal Everything Is Fine, before finally straightening herself to join him. (And that is way too much blocking for one scene, but all's well that ends well.) ]

...I'm Aqua, by the way. I take it you're finished here already?

[ Seeing he'd been going in the general direction of the exit... (She'd noticed him wander in some ten minutes or so ago, if only because he quite literally stands out from the rest of the crowd.) ]

[endeudado]

[ Trust me, Aqua, Jesper's supposed to be short compared to his compatriots. He's a growing boy, after all! He sighs with relief when they confirm the Royal Zookeeper's still napping.
Cats really don't care about anything, do they? ]

Nice to meet you. I'm Jesper. [ He offers her his hand to shake, though he's already begun talking whether she takes it or not. ]

Yeah, I had a good look around. I thought the zoos back home were extravagant, this one really blows it out of the water!

[ Of course, he is ultimately leaving... so maybe animals just aren't his thing. Well, besides cats. Cats must be protected. ]

[keeper]

[ Alas, cats will be cats... And Jespers will be Jespers...

She accepts the handshake with a quiet smile and a cordial nod. (No time to get in a 'pleasure's mine' before he starts rattling off an answer to her previous question.) ]

You're so quick. [ In speech and in movement... She's pretty impressed! Being rather the opposite herself, she's just wrapped up several HOURS here studying each exhibit carefully, 100% map completion and etc. (Nerd that she is, it doesn't even occur to her he miiight just be steamrolling through the place.) ]

I'd never been to one myself, before this. It really is something. [ (Unless you count Disneytown, which is. Quite literally full of talking cartoon animals.)

She drifts with Jesper toward the exit as they talk, and holds the door open for him, gentle(wo)man that she is. ] —After you.

[ (Be sure to duck.) ]

[endeudado]

[ He shrugs. Steamrolling is 100% what he did. ]

It's more like this place isn't really my style. I'd rather be doing something or moving around than looking at animals.

[ He really doesn't have the patience for that stuff, alas. But he's touched that she's still sticking around and helping him, (and she is cute) so he'll stick around. ]

Thanks. [ Yes, he does have to duck, it's becoming a pattern... ] Still haven't found a door around here that agrees with me.

[keeper]

[ Mighty kind of him to slow his roll on her account! (...But don't let her know he's thinking that, she'll Run in embarrassment...) Anyway, even if Aqua's about as dense as a brick, he does seem the charming sort. ]

I'm inclined to believe you.

[ (The constant motion, and also the doors.) She laughs softly, sympathy flickering into her smile; she can get by well enough herself, but it must be uncomfortable having to stoop everywhere constantly. ]

So... what have you enjoyed around here, then?

[ She'll take notes, perhaps give it a go for herself... (l o l) ]

[endeudado]

[ This world's just not ready for tall dudes like Jesper, it's truly a crime. He shrugs it off like he does nearly everything, with a smile and a broad wave of his arms. ]

Not all that much, to be honest. I tried to buy some catnip but people kept telling me not to waste my money. And as far as I can tell, there's no gambling hall here or anything... Seems like the cats here like to read for fun?

[ Talk about boring... ]

[keeper]

[ A world full of scholarly cats is simply too tame for him, huh? ]

Catnip? ...Do you mean for a pet...?

[ She's familiar with the idea of substance abuse thanks to Woodhurst (and wherever else she's been), but she's still naive enough that it simply doesn't come to mind... (As for gambling... Well, that's not really for her, either. ...And she also likes to read for fun................ ohboy.) ]

[endeudado]

[ He is, rather unfortunately, not a huge cat lover. Or book lover. It's a real shame. ]

Apparently? I don't really know what it does, no one will sell it to me.

[ It's a sad life when you can't even buy kitty weed on the kitty planet, what can I say. ]

[keeper]

[ Ah, he's truly fallen upon hard times... ]

My understanding is that it gives cats a sense of euphoria when they smell it. I'm not sure if it'll have a similar effect for humans, however...

[ (She honestly thinks he's still talking about buying some for a cat, even though he seems not to be so fond of felines...??? Jesper, you are a mysterious man with mysterious ways.)

That said, she's assuming sale is restricted here is because... it's quite a potent herb... (OR he's just been specifically blacklisted for some reason, but it's not a conclusion she jumps to ofc.) ]

[endeudado]

[ These cats just don't want Jesper to #BlazeIt, it's a tragedy. ]

I mean, these cats can talk. I don't know about you, but the ones back home didn't do that. Their catnip might not be the usual stuff, either.

[ Jesper has dreams, and they include having a good time surrounded by blazed cats. Shame he can't seem to find some of the stuff... ]

[keeper]

[ (What a bummer, spending 420 on Terra Felis without any kush.)

With a perfectly straight face, ] I've met a few talking animals—though not cats, specifically.

[ It's almost too embarrassing to list castmates, but species include mice, ducks, cows, dogs... (Whatever Goofy is...)

ANYWAY, completely missing his gist, ]

Well, best of luck in your search. If I come across any myself, I'll be sure to let you know.

[ Aqua no. ]