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.

Comments

Mabel Pines | Closed!

[ackingcraycray]

Lava Tunnels with Dipper

[If she had her way, Mabel would be scoping out the town and chatting with those adorable deer folk. But let's just say that thanks to a new furry addition to the family, she's been getting a pretty cold shouldered welcome wherever she went. Kid's screaming, dirty looks. Angry yelling. Spit.

So, taking Evan's suggestion to heart (even if he'd tried valiantly to dissuade her) she's taken her exploration to places more remote. Dipper's taken the lead. For once it's Mabel dragging her heels, carrying a strangely placid D.G. in the fold of her arms.]

I mean, I get it I guess, but he's just a baby! He can't hurt anyone yet. It feels like they're really overreacting. [She sighs, rubbing the pads of one paw.] Do you see anything tunnel-y yet?

Forest???? With Garnet

[Though he be but little, that kitty is fast.]

D.G.!!

[He pays her no heed. She bolts after her errant lion cub into the forest, smacking into the underbrush (and failing to notice a loose end of her sweater being snagged, a single thread that pulls, and pulls, and pulls...) and panting frantically. Guh. Cats chase birds all the time, but when they're on a weird spooky deer island and they've got important stuff to be doing, and apparently all the locals hate lions, she isn't ready to let the cub scamper off on its own yet. What if he got lost? Or hurt! What if one of the Nawalians got scared and tried to kill him?

So here she is, stuck chasing the bugger down. Deeper, more leafy, more rocky. More isolated. Until D.G. cannot possibly be after that bird anymore, because she's pretty sure she saw it fly off at least three giant rocks ago?

And she spies him diving into a hole amid a cluster of rocks.]

AAAARGH, ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH THIS D.G.? ARE YOU TRYING TO GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK?! Your own mother...

[But a mother must do what all mothers must.

It's probably just one of the holes the deer dudes made. No biggie. Mabel dives into it.

Or she would if it were big enough to dive into. She can see his silhouette in the dim light, turned back to her and flicking his tail.]

Nnnnyeh. Nnnnngh!! [She struggles. She squirms. She gets up to her hips inside and still D.G. dances out of her grasp. Only now that the wet earth is pressing against her tank top does she realize that her sweater has been compromised. It's now little better than a scarf with arms.] AAAAH! DIGIZARD ROARNALDO PINES, JUST LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE!

[The cub trots closer. He licks her nose.]

...Awww...I can't stay mad at you.

[gemfisted]

[Now, Garnet was minding her own business. The new islands meant the need to explore, though there was no harm in doing some investigating on her own. She's done it many times before, this is hardly different.

Except when it did become different, mainly with the piece of yarn stuck in one of the many trees in this sprawling forest. Garnet leans in to examine the foreign object, plucking it from the bark before rolling it between her fingers.

The material (or color) didn't look like anything like what she'd seen from the deer (unless hot pink yarn was the latest craze in these parts), urging Garnet to investigate further. And so, much like a cliche plot in a child's mystery story, Garnet follows this thready trail, wrapping the yarn up along her hand as she continues deeper into the forest.

Eventually she reaches the end where... well, she didn't know what she expected, but maybe she needs to learn to be more open minded.

Garnet raises a brow at the sight, approaching the... girl...? currently stuck in a cluster of rocks. Well, it's a good thing she was the first one that came along.

Kneeling down next to the girl, she knocks carefully on one of the rocks. Wouldn't want to upset the formation and crush the human in the process.]

Hello. [Garnet starts.] Need help?

eons later

[ackingcraycray]

[Little gives away the presence that has joined her outside. Mabel's too busy trying to shuffle back out and keep a hold on her rapscallion of a lion cub at the same time. Neither task is a simple one. So when the knock comes it is as an utter surprise, and the honeyed English accent is doubly so. Her scrabbling feet still, resting in the ruts they'd carved in the dirt.]

...God? Is that you?

[She always suspected the almighty was a woman.]

[ex_mettacrusher33]

[Closed to Pearl (but since this is a broadcast, feel free to comment!)]

"GOOOOD EVENING, BEAUTIES AND GENTLEBEAUTIES!!"

It's an impressive display (and shout) for someone who feels as weak as Mettaton does. He's in his more energy-efficient form, arms outstretched with his microphone in one hand and broadcasting ring on the other. He spins on his wheel.

"I'M HERE LIVE ON THE STEPS OF THE NALAWI CITY HALL. WITH ME IS FELLOW ALASTAIR MEMBER PEARL," he gestures to the Gem, as if expecting her to either wave or take a bow, "WHILE TEAM MTT-NEWS INVESTIGATES THE RECENT SILENCE COMING FROM NALAWI'S LOCAL LEADERS. IS THIS QUIET AN INDICATION OF A LACK OF ANSWERS? OR A LACK OF POWER?"

He points the mic to Pearl. "WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS, PEARL? HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING IN YOUR TIME HERE?" Because Mettaton heard a lot of strange accusations regarding his existence (not that he took any offense, especially not from those thinking he was a gift from their god. How nice!).

[beyourrock]

[Pearl stares wide eyed at the camera and the mic shoved in her face. She sighs heavily and pushes the mic away from her face as she gives Mettaton a deadpan look. Was it really nescessary? However, she clears her throat.]

While I've been here at the city hall, I've heard whispers about the Darkal. They said the race had been wiped out during their previous war, in which the goddess of this land helped them defend it from these Darkal. They had been wiped out, being sent to the bottom of the ocean. Some people say they might be the reason for the goddess' disappearence, but no one can be for certain.

[She lets out a heavy sigh.]

I can only assume, for the time being, are the cat-like figures depicted on the murals of the temple, unless proven otherwise.

[ex_mettacrusher33]

[It's Mettaton. It's always necessary.

He takes the shove to his mic with as much grace as a constantly teetering box can. Which means... not at all. It pushes him off balance but he twirls into it, making it look as natural as possible. The audience will never know, but Pearl might.]

OHO, AN INTERESTING OBSERVATION. AND WOULD YOU IMAGINE THESE DARKAL TO JUST BE A LOCAL MYTH? OR IS THERE EVIDENCE THAT THESE MURALS ARE THE TRUTH? AND HOW DO YOU THINK THIS TIES INTO THE REFUSAL FOR NALAWI LEADERS TO COMMENT ON THE CURRENT EVENTS HERE?

[beyourrock]

[She frowns tighter and crosses her arms.]

The natives here are in a lot of stress. I'm sure the leaders of Nalawi are trying to diffuse it as best they can, trying to console their citizens. I don't blame them for being avoidant to strangers.

As for the Darkal. I'm not sure. I would need to see the bottom of the ocean for myself, to see if they really had sunk to the bottom of it.

If anything, we should continue our efforts to find out more about this place on our own. Perhaps find out what's going on with all this magic people are losing. [Herself included.]

Misaki Yata | Open!

[skatebird]

( outside the lava tunnels | open )
[ It's not like Yata has a problem with fire. He and fire are on good terms, in fact, to the point that he's not super concerned about the possibility of a sudden eruption necessitating a hurried retreat. It's the whole 'old, abandoned, and avoided by adults' thing that's getting under his skin. He's not saying it's haunted, but it occurs to him that it might be haunted.

He's not about to dwell on that, though, lest he risk looking visibly spooked. So instead he speaks aloud to whoever might be near him. ]

You think it's safe with the volcano acting funny?

( inside the lava tunnels | closed )
[ Yata's pretty surprised to have a bunch of even-shorter-than usual deer people scream and flee at the sight of him, to the point that he remains briefly frozen in place because cautiously venturing into the small 'room' the fawns had been congregated in. It doesn't look like they're doing anything dangerous, which leaves him wondering why on earth they scattered like that. He leans down to pick up a sack of papers that one of the fawns had dropped in his panic...

... and after a moment lets out a screech of his own and heaves the stack right down to the floor, scattering photographs everywhere. A bright and obvious flush has crawled across his cheeks, though he still seems more angry than anything. ]

Why the hell do they have something like that down here?!

inside

[winces]

[ olivia hadn't been standing more than a few feet behind him when he suddenly jumped back, causing his shoulders to bump into her. she'd only managed to put her hands up in time, and somehow manages not to lose her own footing, though part of that required her to tighten her hold around his shoulders to keep herself steady.

gingerly, she peeks over his shoulder, hovering over his back now why saffron paces just outside the little room, impatient. her eyes are wide, trying to get a better look at what's got yata so uncomfortable. ]

What is it... [ her breath probably fans across his cheek when she speaks. ] Is it scary...?

[skatebird]

[ The tension of his first meeting with Olivia had allowed Yata to bypass his typical embarrassed flustering when it comes to girls, particularly cute girls that aren't wearing much in the way of clothing. After that her lion had attacked him, further delaying the inevitable.

But now Olivia is hanging off his shoulders while he's coming to grips with the fact that the weird deer people have their own version of Playboy and Yata, for lack of a better word, spooks. When Olivia speaks Yata sudden tenses all over before he abruptly does an odd duck and twist maneuver, slipping out of Olivia's grasp and taking a big step away. ]

It's nothing!

[ It's obviously not nothing, considering how embarrassed he still looks. And considering that after a moment he leans down to snatch up the papers again - hopefully before Olivia can. He might die on the spot if she realizes what they are and gets just as embarrassed or, worse, teases him about it. ]

I mean... it's something.

[ He shuffles the pages he's managed to gather up back into a stack, turning the top one face-down. ]

But it's just stupid, not scary.

[winces]

[ he jerks away from her so quickly, so unexpectedly, that she can do nothing more than blink at him in response. her hands still hover in the air where they had been just moments ago, perched comfortably over his shoulders, but now they grasp at nothing but air. slowly, she lowers those, as a look of concern crosses over her features. ]

You... looked pretty bothered for it to just be something stupid, [ she points out, but rather than pursue the matter, she just opts for the more direct approach.

which, in this case, is simply stooping down to pick up one of the pages that happened to waft towards her in his rush to pick them all up.

she blinks at a pair of wide, doe-eyes, not entirely sure what she's looking at here... ]

...Do you have something against photography?

inside! 1/2

[chataclysmic]

[Adrien had fallen behind the beanie-wearing teenager and at his screech sprinted to catch up, skidding to a halt behind him as the photographs scatter. One of them nearly sends him onto his ass as he slides on it, righting himself by way of Yata's shoulder.]

Whoa-- What happened, are you--?

2/2

[chataclysmic]

[He drops his attention to the photos and frowns, tilting his head.]

...uhhh.

[skatebird]

[ Yata jerks and wobbles when Adrien balances himself on his shoulder, shooting him an aggrieved look - which quickly fades as he recognizes the lanky blond with the difficult friend.

Granted, he does still look annoyed. Just not so much at Adrien. ]

Some kids were playing around down here.

[chataclysmic]

[He recoils from Yata's shoulder with an apologetic smile and splayed hands, then drops into a crouch to stare at the photos.]

Doing "what" is the part I'm concerned about.

closed to dipper;

[respired]

[ Turns out the graveyards here are pretty cheerful--at least during the day. But Koltira's come at twilight, and he can sense the presence of spirits. He strides along the well tended paths, his ears perked forward, his cold-bright eyes alert. They need all the information they can gather about this world, and in Koltira's experience, that means starting with the remains. When he spots Dipper with the same idea, he joins the boy, coming up silently beside him. ]

Be on your guard. We are not alone.

(closed prompts)

[winces]

FOR MONSTERS—

[ in due time, she figures it out. with everyone else's magic waning, it was only sensible that hers would as well, regardless of its source of origin. though there is something startling about the idea of a being even more powerful than their benefactors, who (in olivia's opinion) already possess too much power in the first place.

but those are thoughts to be mulled over another time, a time when friends were not on the verge of de-existence. her room at the inn makes for a poor clinic substitute, but she manages to scrounge enough linens and pillows and space to accommodate each monster that she has invited (though her words were pleading enough to be more insisting) to stay.

she keeps vigil for whomever decides to stop by. for whomever needs a few minutes or even an hour of her hovering nearby, always ready to stretch out a hand and give them a tiny burst of magic to compensate for the lack of theirs.

she can only hope it is enough. ]

FOR ACHILLES—

[ he will find her on the stairwell, in the middle of the night. a crumpled heap of soft cloth and even softer pink hair, sprawled along the last few steps that lead up to their floor in the inn. it's anyone's guess how long she'd been there, almost looking to be sleeping soundly... if not for the almost feverish heat to her skin, and the accompanying sheen of sweat that screams of overwork. there is blood, too, but only slightly, high on her shin and on the wood of a step where she had fallen. the wound itself doesn't look to be serious, but blood trickles down the slope of skin regardless, dripping to the ground like a visual heartbeat.

she'll shift when he nears, brow furrowing and lips parting on an unspoken sound. her body craves this rest, but her mind is attempting to rebel. ]

[boneafide]

[It's only because she insisted. It's rude to spurn a friend who is rather Determined to have you visit them, even if the "visiting" encompasses her attempting to take care of him, for some reason?]

I assure you, Olivia, that I am perfectly fine! This is perhaps a light allergy at worst!

[Allergic to what?? He doesn't know what allergy means. Monsters don't get sick the same way humans do.]

Or seasickness? Either way, while I appreciate your efforts and admire your tenacity, I am well!

[He looks fine enough, at least... for a few minutes. The longer he stays in one place, stops moving around so much, he'll start falling asleep where he stands.]

[winces]

I didn't know skeletons could get allergies, [ she says calmly, patiently, gentle even as she ushers him into the room with soft and guiding hands. before he can even argue against it, she's led him by the hand to one of the makeshift beds she's set up, quietly coaxing him to sit. she's got one of his hands in both of hers, quickly checking him over to look for...

well.

it's a bit harder to look for signs of sickness on a skeleton. ]

Were you at sea just now?

[aspearation]

[ Undyne is so busy trying to be a hero, but even she realizes she's been running herself ragged. When she receives Olivia's message, it seems like a good excuse to take a little break, without having to admit that's what she's doing. If it was a friend imploring her to visit, how could she say no?

She pokes her head in the door, looking weary, but looking just as much like she's trying not to show it, with a big toothy grin and squared shoulders. ]

Time for another lesson, huh?

[winces]

[ oh you monsters and your stubbornness... she admires it, really, even if at this moment she rather wishes it wouldn't get in the way.

still, olivia is nothing if not an attentive nurse, and so she plays along with undyne's brave face, putting on a smile of her own. ]

Oh yes, Ms. Undyne, a very important one, too!

[ she waits until she's got the woman ushered into the space, door closing quietly behind them, before turning back to undyne, eyes wide and imploring. ]

I have this friend... I'm really worried about her. But I don't know how to say it without hurting her feelings! What do I do...?

gomen for the delay

[heelies]

[Long has Achilles been restless while he remains a guest in this land: not for any mistreatment endured at the hands of their hosts, who have offered food and beds enough as is right to give guests, but for the questions whose answers are grasped as easily as ripples upon the water. Thus, the dwindling hours find him still awake, and so he slips from his bed to seek a sip of wine that it might soothe his mind.

He does not make it that far. Sprawled across the steps and splashed in moonlight is Olivia, familiar first by the unique shade of her hair, and then by her sweat-slick features when he kneels at the top of the stairs.]

What has happened? Olivia, you are not well: your skin burns like a fire upon the hearth, and blood leaks from this gash in your leg.

[Before she can respond, he maneuvers so as to take her into his arms and lift her from the stairs. Cradled in his arms thus, she is as a child broken from sleep by the jagged spires of nightmares.]

samesies...

[winces]

[ it doesn't take much jostling to cause her to stir. the moment his hands lift her (far too effortlessly), she awakes, eyes fluttering widely as if in the middle of a dream, instinctively attempting to sit up even as he tucks her against his chest. ]

Wha— Wher—

[ she spends a dizzying moment trying to collect her bearings, but before long her eyes fall upon achilles himself. though it takes a few moments to make sense of his image, she seems to visibly relax upon realizing it's he who's holding her. ]

...my Lord...? [ bc by this point she Knows ] What are you... What's happening...?

[humerous]

[Unlike certain other monsters around here, Sans isn't averse to resting, or sleeping. In fact, whenever anything is happening he'd probably rather be sleeping. Always.

So this is just a handy excuse, really. He climbs onto her makeshift bedding with no objection and lays face down, not seemingly bothered with removing his jacket or taking off his slippers.]

I won't stay long.

Just until we go back to Oska.

[lol]

[winces]

[ she laughs softly, and doesn't make any attempt to fight him. he isn't resisting, after all; in fact, he's been the most cooperative about this among the monsters. frankly, she's just grateful he's laying down all on his own.

she comes to sit beside him on a chair she'd placed just to the right of the bed. gently, she reaches up to tug a bit on the collar of his jacket, rearranging it enough so that it doesn't dig into his cheekbone there. ]

Are you comfortable...?