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

[12inches]

[ There are few words that get Sigma Klim moving faster than crisis, especially when sent from a young and reckless friend. It could either be incredibly minor or incredibly major, but meeting where Adrien had suggested would be far less grating on the both of them than pressing for information over the net, tempting as it is. ]

[ He usually had a better time of finding things, but in all honesty things had been feeling a little foggy and hollow since shortly after their arrival. Not necessarily an unpleasant feeling, simply unpleasant by virtue of being different and ultimately unable to place. But that's his problem. Eventually he hits the Gardens, quickly scoping the joint and eventually pinpointing the twiggy blond curled up in a quiet flowery alcove. ]

Hey! [ Out he calls before rushing over full speed, skidding to a halt and crouching in front of the kid. ] What's up, man? You made it sound pretty bad...

[chataclysmic]

[The "Hey!" catches his attention from where he'd been focused on his coat, and he snaps his head up in alarm, shrinking away before realizing the voice was Sigma's. His eyes were still wide and his shoulders still drawn up when he skid to a halt in front of him, but Adrien made quick work of shuffling himself and standing. He dropped his vest and left it there for a moment, cradling the belt of pocketed bags he'd removed from his hips carefully instead.]

Um-- hi. Hi, Sigma. I-- I'm okay, I think. I'm. Can we talk? Somewhere-- ahh.

[He was looking left, then right, then behind him, then up, and overall all around him like he was paranoid of being seen, or heard, or both. Finally he turned a strung-out look to Sigma instead of their surroundings.]

...I need to tell you something but nobody else can know about it.

[12inches]

[ As Adrien scuttles upright, Sigma does the same, hanging back as he wrestles with all the accessories clutched close to his chest. It's alright bro, in your own time, get it out... ]

Yeah, sure— [ He'd come ready to talk. Or help, or fight something, things which he excelled at in ascending order, but that doesn't deter him. What with the way the kid is stammering and jittering like a robot on the fritz, it's probably good at least someone is here with him. ]

[ Once he starts swiveling his head like an owl, Sigma puts out his hands in a placating gesture. ] Easy, dude. Twitching like you know how the world's gonna end is gonna make everyone want to listen in...

[ Accompanied with a little grin. It's... at least meant to be light-hearted, but concern still wears through. ]

Did you have somewhere else in mind? It's pretty quiet here...

[chataclysmic]

[He actually turns himself in a full circle looking at the area, first looking over one shoulder and just continuing to do so but making it a full-body gesture. Adrien please find your chill. When he comes back around to Sigma he stops, startled like he hadn't even realized he was moving, takes a long breath and holds it, and then exhales with a nod.]

This. Should be okay, yeah I. Sit? I'm gonna sit. I know I just stood up, but I'm gonna sit.

[Before he falls over spinning himself in circles, at least.]

[12inches]

[ Woefully, the gesture is having less of an effect than he had hoped. Once Adrien starts circling, he just about clamps his hands over the kid's shoulders, but thankfully he seems to come back to his senses (at least in part) after one rotation. ]

Okay, okay. [ Sheesh, this is serious... You know what, he's gonna take Adrien by the shoulders anyway, at least until he's firmly on the ground and unable to continue spinning, just so he doesn't fling off in some random direction like a video game glitch. Once he's there, he'll sit across from him. ]

C'mon, spit it out before you throw it up.

[ Or just throw up in general. Please don't. ]

[chataclysmic]

[He has a very secure hold on his lunch, thank you. ...That is actually probably only because he more than likely hasn't eaten, but he won't share that. He wheezes a vague sort of laugh and settles cross-legged, steadied by Sigma's hands on his shoulders. The gesture is a lot more calming than he expected it to be.]

I'm not gonna throw up, jeez.

[He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and exhales slowly again before he moves to the pouch on his belt his one hand hasn't left. He gives Sigma a careful glance, opens the pouch, and extracts something small and not-quite-furry. He cups the creature in his hands, and makes a horribly pained expression at the way he curls tighter on his side and burrows into his fingers but otherwise doesn't move.]

[He holds his hands out toward Sigma carefully, using the cupped shape of his hands to shield Plagg from both light and view of any passers-by.]

...um.

[12inches]

I don't think you could say that with a straight face if I had a mirror.

[ Okay but pointing out how screwed up someone looks doesn't actually help them, Sigma. Instead, he turns his focus intently on the pouch Adrien's begun to fumble open with all the grace of a teenager about to show him some irrefutable evidence that he'd just killed a man in cold blood. The display is invariably more distressing than the result at first; leaning close, Sigma's brow furrows at the sight of what looks like some sort of small rodent. ]

[ Then the pointy ears and whiskers brighten his expression, however faintly. That is one microscopic cat... ] You've gotta be kitten me, where've you been hiding this little guy?

[ The rise of his hand is almost knee-jerk, but it stops shy of touching the critter when all it does is silently cringe in tense discomfort... He'll fashion the awkward hoverhand into a second shield from light and the public eye. ]

He's not looking too good...

[ Thank you, Captain Obvious. ]

[chataclysmic]

[Offers a withering glare.]

Yeah, well. Usually my dad has people assault me with makeup when I look like hell, I don't get a chance to think about it really.

[The laugh he gives at Sigma's immediate pun is louder than it should be, and a brief, single sound that borders on hysterical. Plagg grumbles faintly in his palm and reaches out to pull one of Adrien's fingers over his ears. He uses his thumb to rub absent circles into his back.]

He usually hangs out in my bag, or a pocket-- he likes this new belt for the recruits a lot. You-- can probably touch him, if you want. He didn't complain about me telling you, and usually all he does is complain.

[He's doing a lot better at talking now, but his expression is still absolutely heartbroken at the state of his kwami. He glances up at Sigma.]

I don't know what's wrong.

[12inches]

[ That's an oddly specific problem to have, Adrien. It gives him pause, trying to figure out what to do with his face. It settles on bemused. ]

... I think that's simultaneously the most and least dad thing I've ever heard.

[ Slapping a bandaid on your son and telling him to suck it up, by way of putting makeup on him. Sorry kid, dudes plus makeup just doesn't click for him, but he also doesn't know about that Model Lyfe. There are more important things to worry about right now anyway. ]

[ As he listens, Sigma reaches closer again, carefully scritching the teeny cat-like creature between the ears, stopping only to catch Adrien's distressed glance and return a similarly helpless stare. What do you want him to do man... ]

Uh... Listen, as much as I love cats, I really can't claim to be any sorta expurrt on them... And to be pawnest, he doesn't look like any cat I've ever seen to begin with. [ I mean it's obviously a cat... but it's all big-headed and kind of bipedal-looking... Doesn't make it any less cute, just. Different. ]

When did this start up?

[chataclysmic]

[He flinches at that, hunching his shoulders more and curling Plagg a little closer to himself.]

Yeah, well. He got weird a couple of years back, and I'm a model for his fashion line. Can't have the Perfect Model Son looking anything but.

[At least it's not eyeliner and stuff. Just a lot of foundation, probably. Adrien is here for all your fancy contouring needs. But Plagg is definitely the more important thing here, so he swallows the salty lump in his throat that tends to lodge itself there when he thinks too long about his father, and manages a slightly less hysterical chuckle at the continuing cat puns.]

I've had him a while now, it's... Just that nobody is supposed to know.

[12inches]

[ Ah. Nerve: touched. That would get to any kid, wouldn't it? Your dad getting weird and tailoring you to his work? Wouldn't it just... Sigma sits back a fraction, eyes fixed downward on the cat. ]

Yeah, that'd get... kinda weird.

[ It's nice to have something else to focus on. The laugh gets a weak sort of grin in return. At least the puns are bringing the kid a little joy instead of just grating on the situation... He'd met someone not too long ago that garnered a similar glee from them, hadn't he? Been a while since they'd turned up... If he didn't get transferred, they should all hang out sometime, he was around Adrien's age. ]

[ Still smiling, ] Why not? Is he the E.T. to your Elliot or something?

[chataclysmic]

[Haha, tailoring. And he's a fashion designer... He'd laugh at the prospect of the "three" of them hanging out-- If Sigma actually voiced the thought he'd probably straight up tell him in a desperate attempt to just say it. He's a little fragile right now.]

[Gives Plagg a withering frown for a while longer, then looks up to Sigma.]

...Not. Exactly? It's been a really long time since I've seen that movie, but he's not an alien. Um.

[A pause, and he swallows audibly as he rubs his thumb into Plagg's back again. The creature rolls over and cracks his eyes open, squinting first at Adrien and then over at Sigma.]

...Plagg, this is Sigma. He's safe, I promise.