epidemiology | EVENT ★ WELCOME TO TERRA FELIS

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EVENT ★ WELCOME TO TERRA FELIS

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Sieglinde's hair, in contrast to Sonia's relatively tidy and voluminous bun, is much akin to a dark and inky octopus, spreading out around her small body like it has a mind of its own. A split-end laden and fairly unkempt mind.

But she's certainly in agreement about the frequency of their hot spring access, sinking into the water almost to her nose by virtue of height but tipping her head back to speak.]

I concur. The medical benefits of such things are widely celebrated, after all.

[ Sonia did spend money on hair products for hers though, takes her time with it plus also has had help from Haise in taming it enough that it doesn't cause problems. Besides, the bath water might be good for skin and bones, but it certainly isn't good for hair with all the extras they put into it. It can dry hair out. ]

Quite. After this we should be quite relaxed, and our skin should be softer as well.

[As intelligent as Sieglinde is... she's never actually turned her brains towards her appearance or womanly upkeep, remaining sadly ignorant about haircare... to the detriment of her damaged locks.]

I suppose it is never too early to start upkeeping such things...

[After all, she is not even at the peak of her health and beauty just yet, but it cannot hurt to care about such things in advance... the last thing she wanted to do was look anything like her mother. (Nevermind that was not a natural aging, but the damage from mustard gas.)]

It is far more relaxing than I first thought it would be.

[And it eased the pain in her legs, too.]

[ Well, if she wants her future prospects(TM) to be brighter than they are now, it may help. ]

If you would like advice, I do not mind sharing what I have learned.

[ Plus, from what she understands, most of the body creams don't work unless you're using them over a long period of time.

Though hmm. ]

It is, is it not? [ She replies softly. ] Do you think you will be coming here more often now?

[The way her prospects are doing now, she feels like she's going to need all the help she can get...]

I should be remiss were I to turn down such advice from someone with your background.

[Perhaps it is simply imagination and what she's learned from books, but a princess seems like a person well-versed in beautification.

The question, though, doesn't seem to faze her at all, and she answers without a hint of hidden meaning- though she admittedly breezes through the reason a bit too quickly.]

I often frequent the hot springs in Oska- it is soothing to my feet.

[ Good luck, Sieglinde... ]

Ah...! I suppose that may be the case, I have been taught from a young age about all the various tools to look the part, after all.

[ She isn't wrong in this case, anyway. ]

Have you been practicing with the make up set I gave to you as well?

[ Well, she hadn't indended anything weird with the question either -- only that they might see each other more often. ]

I see... then I am glad it is helpful.

[Ah, the make-up set. She has it, of course, it's tucked into her things, carefully wrapped in a scrap of the dress she'd arrived in, once upon a time. A scrap that hadn't been ruined by blood stains, at any rate.

A bit guiltily, or something like it, Sieglinde sinks a bit into the water, tucking strands of her hair sloppily behind her ears.]

... I have not yet found the time for more than one or two attempts.

[She'd tried shortly after her birthday, but then it had been infections, and vaccines, and Patroclus, and more than she cared to stomach, though stomach it she did.]

[ Sonia blinks as Sieglinde sinks down into the water, trying to be reassuring with her tone of voice when she responds. ]

With everything that happened, that is understandable. Perhaps when we are done here I can give you a tutorial of sorts?

If it is not too much trouble.

[It might not be considered relaxing to teach, she supposed, and the whole point of this endeavor was to relax, but...]

I cannot seem to master the way to apply a certain rosy hue to one's cheeks.

[Blush, that is. Considering how often she avoided sleep or forgot to eat, she imagined adding a bit of color would be of great benefit in the make-up department.]

Then I would be glad to help!

[ She even sits up a little, energised despite the relaxing temperatures of the hot springs. ]

Sometimes there are others ways if you do not have much left. You can also pinch here--

[ She reaches for her own face, pinching at her cheeks gently enough but a small flush definitely forms as the blood there shifts closer to the surface of her skin. ] Though as you can imagine, it does not last as long.

[Was she recommending... cheek pinching? Sieglinde cocks her head in confusion, putting her palms to her own cheeks.]

I believe I would definitely need it to be longer than pinched skin can supply...

Ah! That is only in dire circumstances. Should you run out of blusher or not have any on your person after your own fades. The other trick is for lipstick, if you forget it you can always nibble on your lips like this-- [ Sieglinde will see Sonia's jaw move as she drags her teeth over the skin. ] --and it will immediately redden. Again, it is not long lasting, but if it is impossible to apply more... it is better than nothing, no?

[Sieglinde obediently mimics Sonia's actions, chewing momentarily on her bottom lip, but she still ends up looking a bit unsure, crossing her arms thoughtfully.]

But if it is against someone I interact with longer than single moment, will it not then backfire as the effect fades and they realize I did such a silly thing?

Not at all. Lipstick also fades after a while, especially if you have been eating or drinking in their prescence.

[ Sonia smiles as Sieglinde tries it, and it does give her lips a little colour. Sonia reaches to touch just underneath Sieglinde's lip to study her. ]

It seems to have worked a little already. Perfecto!

[ She even gives her a thumbs up, something she definitely would not have normally done before but ... people here have bad habits lbr. ]

Hmm...

[Sieglinde obediently lifts her chin for inspection, pursing her lips a bit and trying her best to look... fetching?

Other people's bad habits have rubbed off not only on Sonia, but on Sieglinde as well, allowing her to actually understand that thumbs up. It had been quite baffling that everyone kept flashing the number one at her at first.

But there's a pause, her gaze darts to the side in a bout of insecurity, before,]

... would you say that I am beautiful, Sonia?

[Sonia herself was. With such fair hair, feminine body, and clear skin... and surely she would know the standards for such things as beauty in the outside world? (Beauty, not... "cute", or "adorable", or the other number of things she was more usually called.)]

[ Well really it isn't as though she hadn't seen the sign of a thumbs up before, but it hadn't been quite as common. Either way, it's nice that they're on the same page.

At least until Sieglinde looks away, asks her a question like that. ]

You are very beautiful, Sieglinde. Has someone told you otherwise?

[ The way her tone shifts it's like she's ready to d e s t r o y someone for such falsities. ]

Oh, no, nothing like that-

[She's quick to assure, not quite having expected such a threatening tone towards her imaginary abusers... though admittedly, quite pleased that the option is there if she would ever need it, apparently.]

I just... wondered.

[Perhaps it was a poor reason.]

There are many beautiful women in Audentes.

[Who would probably all snag the eligible males before said males were even inclined to look her way.]

[ Whatever air she put up (probably like she was ready to fight someone) immediately disperses and she shifts to relax again, relieved that Sieglinde hasn't heard some awful untruths about herself. ]

There are, however... in many places pale skin with dark hair is considered an incredible beauty. You should not let anyone else make you think otherwise.

[Hmm...

Sieglinde had some degree of faith in her own loveliness. At least, she'd had, once, before she'd come here, and begun to realize that no one whose eye she was attempting to catch really saw her as old enough to be lovely or beautiful.

She supposed it was not a bad thing, to be "cute" or "charming", but it wasn't... what she wanted.]

... Do you suppose we shall stay forever physically as we are now? Removed from our own worlds and our own time?

[Perhaps it was a strange question to follow with, but.]

I have been in ALASTAIR nearly two years now, and I do not feel I have changed at all.

[ It wouldn't be what she wanted, no. Sadly society in the future had ruled that against her, so much that it does make things a lot more difficult in the long run. ]

It is hard to say, I think. One year may not be long enough, as some girls have their growth at a later date. Some even at 16. Actually, one of my classmates had a similar situation. I wish I had photos to show you. She was always worried people would not take her seriously because she looked much younger than the rest of us, but one year after a trip abroad she came home and was much taller and had filled out.

[ Sonia reaches out, grips Sieglinde's hand gently. ]

Please do not give up hope just yet.

I know that each woman's blossoming has its own timeline... I have factored it in to my calculations.

[On creating her heir, she means. After all, she'd even had a potential sire at one point, though he'd been transferred... so when it seemed possible, she'd mapped out an entire timeline. (Assuming, worst case scenario, that she didn't begin menstruating until sixteen, and factoring in the time it might take to not only be impregnated but also considering the possibility of miscarriage or stillbirth, she could even be into her second decade by the time she had her heir, and-)

She stops herself from thinking any further on that. She didn't have any candidates any longer, at least, not any realistic ones.]

I am just worried about what removal from our proper timelines might do to our bodies.

[At least, that sounds like an excuse for her worries.]

I see. [ Sonia pauses at that, to give herself time to consider the notion that it might affect them. Either way, if she were to go home it is not as though she would have similar concerns as Sieglinde. She'll be living a life on the run at best, will die at worst. Worrying about whether she will have children or get married is the least of her concerns, but Sieglinde had mentioned it as a necessary before, so she is trying to ensure she considers this carefully for her. ]

If you are truly concerned, if we make it back to Oska and everything is all right, would you like me to examine your data from the medical center? It might be better if someone else does so there is no bias, at least. Though I am not certain of how much their equipment will tell us as well.

["If we make it back to Oska"... If. It's a sobering thought she's been trying to avoid, if only because she has nothing to do to fix it.]

... That may be useful.

[If they make it back.]

After all... I have only known one person in my tenure here who was supposedly returned to their world and not simply transferred to another team.

We do not have any proof as to the method of our return, if it ever occurs... if we will return to the exact moment we left... or if time has flown by with us simply missing... and however we do return, will we do so having aged in ALASTAIR's employ, or will we never age at all...

[Once down that particular rabbit hole, however...]

[ It is a sobering though, but it's better to think about the worst case scenarios as well. Terra Felis has some equipment, but it isn't the same as the castle. ]

Of course. You should know I would do anything that might help you, you need only ask.

[ Because whether it has been said or not, Sieglinde is her friend. ]

Though truly? I am aware both Keith and Lance returned to their own world briefly, and it was how they left it. That is partly why my own worries have eased.

You are too kind.

[She means it- in both the positive, and perhaps the worrisome way. (Honestly, Sonia, ignoring your own health to chase after and immunize people when you're fresh out a coma... says the hypocrite.)

But she hastens instead to correct herself.]

I mean... returned permanently. At least... seemingly permanently. A woman named Kidagakesh... it was before your time, I believe. She received word from ALASTAIR's higher ups and was returned properly to her world...

[She does not know if the same happened to Keith and Lance, only knowing them primarily as... network handles, but.]

And it has been months but she has not returned.

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