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

c

[assent]

[ Really, she had actually ventured towards the woodlands areas so she can practise some of the magic given to her from ALASTAIR rather than risking harming some of the cats on accident. She has two to work with now, one newer than the other. Sadly, even if she had the crystal shard spell for a while, she only managed to practice it a few times in secluded woodlands back in Woodhurst as well. There hadn't been much time before she'd fallen into the job of trying to help find the cure as well.

Besides, it has been a while since she last saw Shizuo, which is why she pauses in her footsteps. Her eyes sink back down to where he is on the floor, curious to see how relaxed he might be when there is a threat of bears and wolves in the area. ]

I admit, I was curious about that... but should you be relaxing here if that is the case?

[ She does have her sword clipped to her side as a precaution for that though anyway. ]

[longtempered]

[Oh...actually, he knows this face, doesn't he? The steps give way to Sonia gradually drawing into view over his head, and Shizuo blinks at her slowly over his shades, glance shifting from her face to the sword at her side.

Her question earns an impressively noncommittal hum.]

Dunno. Nobody's tried to stop me from coming out, so I figure it's alright. [He stretches his arms out a bit more, almost as if to further emphasize exactly how comfortable he is right here about now. (It's extremely so.)] If a bear comes up...they're only a bit taller than a person, right? I'll just punch it in the face, I guess. [Ah.]

[assent]

[ Well she'd chosen the area as it was away from everyone else. She hasn't had much of a chance to practice the magic she was given from ALASTAIR, so now seemed like a good time after she'd relaxed a few days prior to and after arrival. ]

Perhaps, if that is the case. However... [ Her face shifts into a grimace, a little upset by his nonchalance towards the protection of bears. ] ...please do not purposely cause harm to one if it does come. There are other ways to deal with them.

[longtempered]

Ah? I mean--hey, I'm not going to punch it that hard... [??? WHY THE DISTRESS...isn't that what you should do when bears crop up?? Well no, alright, so the usual advice when a bear crops up is to either run or don't move, from what Shizuo vaguely remembers about pretty much anything bear-related he's ever seen or heard back home. Ikebukuro--hell, Tokyo in general isn't exactly the sort of place teeming with wildlife on the whole, though...so a bear showing up would be a first anyway.

But he just generally solves problems by punching them anyway, as you do. It's usually (almost too) effective. Still though...

Shizuo slowly sits up, mostly so that he doesn't keep holding this conversation whilst viewing Sonia literally upside-down.] And if there's other ways that's fine by me too. I'm not a bear expert or anything. ...Are you? [Genuinely curious, actually...Shizuo has long since learned that the people in this team can do all kinds of things. No reason bear-taming might be out of the equation for anyone, right?]

[assent]

[ Um. Shizuo, no?? ]

Do not punch one at all! [ Her voice definitely carries some weight as she says that, hand outstretched as she practically tries to command him. Though at least that tone of voice doesn't last. ]

Not myself personally, no... however, I do know someone who is quite talented in that regard. I could probably try something that may work.

[longtempered]

[Oh my god...Sonia why are you like this....]

Alright, fine, geez. No punching at all, got it. [Shizuo is visibly...decidedly unimpressed, both at the added weight to her voice and the hand suddenly being waved his way. But at least he's more exasperated than particularly irritated, at the moment. She just...really likes bears, apparently? Fair enough, then, whatever. He can live his life without punching a bear, if that's how it's got to be.

Especially since she has at least secondhand bear experience, apparently??] Oh, so you've got like...a bear-taming friend or something. Hey, that's still pretty cool. What kind of stuff do they do about bears?

[assent]

[ When you live as a princess, you become a princess in all your being okay... ]

Perfecto. [ Her hand presses down onto the other, clearly switching moods instantly as she seems to warm up 100% all over again. ] He taught it how to strike poses, such as this-- [ Her arm outstretches above her head, ] --and this-- [ and then the other arm goes up ] --and this! [ This time it is to the side.

How is she not embarrassed tbh... ]

[longtempered]

[Embracing it to the fullest, truly........

But now she seems a fair bit happier with bear-punching put neatly to the side. Talk about abrupt, ah...but it's not exactly like Shizuo can talk about abrupt moods himself, really. Shizuo settles back, arms propping on the grass behind him, watching as Sonia elaborates on the sorts of things a bear-taming person does with bears.


Huh.]

Striking poses... [Repeated slowly, as Sonia acts out said poses with great enthusiasm. Shizuo doesn't know what he was expecting. It...wasn't this, though.] ...It kind of looks like a dance?

[assent]

[ She stops fairly soon after, with the explanation well out of the way now. ]

I suppose it does, does it not? I believe it was done as as a demonstration without much other purpose... but maybe he was trying to cheer us on at the same time.

[ Only she would see it that way though. ]

I doubt I could get similar results from trying to command a bear, but I may be able to get it to sit down?

[longtempered]

I guess a dancing bear might make somebody out there happy...was your friend in a circus or something like that? [Asked in genuine curiosity, really--since honestly, it kind of sounds like the sort of thing you'd see in a circus or something. Not that Shizuo has any experience with those, though, having never been to one. But dancing animals seem to be a staple of that kind of thing, so...?

Sonia doing it herslef though, huh...] You think so? I know I sure as hell couldn't do anything like that, but if you could that'd be pretty cool. [Idly glancing around at the surrounding woodland now:] Almost kind of a shame there isn't a bear around for you to try things out on, now that you mention that...

[assent]

In a circus...? No. Not at all. [ She looks offended, tbh. ] The Fobidden One is far better than some circus freak. He is simply the best in his field as an animal tamer and breeder.

[ Sonia stop getting offended for him now, it's getting embarrassing... yet this is just how things are meant to be. When you're the only one who doesn't suspect the person of murder it just happens like this. ]

Though we could always search for one, if you are interested in finding that out? I do not mind.

[longtempered]

[Ah, accidental offense has been triggered once again....he's not trying to do this on purpose, honestly!! How unfortunate...]

Hey, who said anything about freaks? I sure as hell didn't. [Briefly looking vaguely miffed himself at you PUTTING THESE WORDS IN HIS MOUTH SMH] Being in a circus isn't that looked down on...where I'm from, anyway. If he just has a general job doing that kind of stuff with animals that's pretty cool too, though.

[ANYWAY...that's quickly forgotten in favor of the weird offer that's suddenly being leveled his way now. Shizuo stares up at Sonia a bit, evidently at least somewhat caught off-guard like this.]

...Seriously, you wouldn't mind going out and finding one? [Ah....he frowns thoughtfully.] I mean, I guess I'm not exactly doing anything else right now. [And who knows when they'll be in a place that actually has bears again??? Shizuo shifts, and then begins to slowly climb to his feet.] Any idea how people go out and find bears? I've only ever heard about how to get away from them, myself...

[assent]

[ Well it'd just help more if she had more experience of the world, honestly. This girl hadn't left her castle then went to Japan only to be stuck at school then spent 3 years on a world rampage while not under her own control so... ]

Is... that not what they call them? [ Now she just looks confused. ] I was not aware. In programs I have seen they are usually referred to like that, no?

[ Basically this is what she learned from television ofc. ]

Though of course not! I had planned on coming here to train anyway, finding a bear in the process is not too much of a distraction. I believe usually people search for prints, scents and the like. We could try that?

[longtempered]

[Well, confusion is better than being offended, so that's something. Shizuo looks confused back, at least...]

Are they really? Aah, I wouldn't know if it's from stuff like that...I don't watch much TV or anything, so I'm just talking what I've heard from other people. [Which isn't much, admittedly. Not like circuses are a frequent topic of conversation or anything.....oh well. He waves a hand vaguely.] Maybe it actually goes either way. But I wasn't trying to insult your friend. He sounds like a pretty cool guy, you know?

[Now that he's on his feet he dusts off his pants and then looks up expectantly, readjusting the shades on his face.]

Well, if you're down for it that sounds like a plan, then. [Apparently Shizuo does not consider finding a bear in the process of training much of a distraction either, how fortunate.........why are these two so weird] Sounds like that's worth a shot. I guess we can start looking for bear footprints or whatever...maybe that way? [Looking towards where the trees start to thicken, a little further down the hill from where they are.]

[assent]

[ It is much better... though gosh they are both useless. ]

I did not have anyone to ask until recently, and then it was not really at the forefront of my mind, I admit. I am truly very sorry for accusing you as well, but I am certain you would admire his skills if you were to meet him.

[ Nah he'd probably just think he's a weirdo tbh. ]

Still, I would like to try. Let us start in that direction then.

[ She gives him a smile, clearly appeased now as she sets off on this little adventure to find a bear. ]