epidemiology | EVENT ★ EXPLORATION

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EVENT ★ EXPLORATION

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

i) allergy-ridden

[ three tiny sneezes echo through the temple.

he'd made a grave mistake to actually venture outside--the flowers are so big and colorful and pollen-ridden that riku can barely keep up. he sneezes once more before he groans and holds his head. ]

Great. [ he sounds to be a little bit of a grouch as he tries to stand up straight, having hunched over in the middle of a sneeze fit. ] Like they even sell any medicine here...

[ he rifles in his bag for a cut of cloth, frowning at it before he sniffles and just puts it against his nose and mouth. he can't really run away--he's gotta figure out more if he's going to be of any help... so while riku hunches his shoulders, he walks back out into the gardens, intent on looking at the statues even with watery eyes, even when he has to look in between sneezes. ]

ii) farsighted

Oh--sorry.

--sorry!

Ugh, excuse...

[ this is becoming a problem.

with his powers diminishing, it's harder and harder to discern the world around him. he could figure it out pretty well by rote routine and some guidance before, but as his darkness starts to lessen and lessen... riku's clumsiness starts to rise.

everyone he's bumped into at least is mostly polite. he turns a little too quickly and knocks a small wooden box out of a nalawi's hands (hooves?) and only barely manages to catch it with fast reflexes, handing it back with a frazzled look.

at this point, he's just resigned himself to leaning against one of the walls, looking chastised. to himself, he wonders: ]

How're you supposed to fix a problem when you can't see?

wildcard)

[ riku will be wandering both komo and pu'ulai! as his powers weaken, he'll be refusing to read and probably be tripping up more--some may even see him hooking a weird weapon to his belt as the days pass. he can be found most anywhere, but if you really want to catch him in his element, the beach and the sea are the best places to find him. ]

[The sneezing is painfully audible, and King couldn't have missed it if he was trying to. Unlike with most everything else in this mess, however, this is something he might actually be able to help with. King and his ever-present green pillow approach so casually that it's almost suspicious. When he finally gets close though, he just nods and gestures to the cloth over Riku's nose and mouth.]

It should be okay to get rid of that now. At least right here. I can still do that much.

What're you talk...

[ his voice comes out muffled and confusingly irate before he realizes his eyes aren't watering.

he pauses and slowly pulls the cloth down, looking around.

alright, he's not sneezing anymore... ]

What'd you do?

I just tweaked the pollen itself. It won't last long enough to get airborne and set anybody off. [He shrugs like it's not a big deal. It's taking a lot more effort to maintain than it should though.] If you walk away, you'll have to deal with it again though.

[ he... makes a face. ]

Sorry. That must be tiring you out. You need anything?

Better to be tired like this than tired of not being able to do anything.

[His weary smile is lackluster but genuine.]

The more I walk around, the more I want to leave.

[It'd be hard to miss the walking disaster of Riku as he bumps his way through the street... but not impossible, apparently. Evan, walking and intermittently writing (in very small words on a very full piece of paper) has stayed some distance behind Riku for a short while, but it's not until he's walking by where the other man has slumped against the wall and hears him speak that he even looks up.

The redheaded young man then stops to give Riku a very quizzical look.]

You can't see?

Are you alright? I mean, it is pretty bright out, but they did give us those nice sunglasses.

[ erk.

he waves a hand. ]

The sun's not the problem.

[ glasses are glasses, but those aren't the right kind... if only they were prescription glasses. ]

[Evan lowers his paper and pencil, giving this apparent colleague more of his attention. Not being able to see seemed like a major enough problem that it should have been addressed before sending this person along on this mission, right?]

Well, what is the problem, then?

[ he frowns, crossing his arms.

truth is, he doesn't like telling other people about his problems--what good will it do? people have their own lives to worry about. ]

Does it matter?

[That's a kind of recalcitrance with which the retiring young man is deeply familiar. That said, he's not used to having it levelled in his direction. He frowns back at the other fellow, a quizzical expression more than an annoyed one.]

I don't know, you tell me.

I was sort of running under the assumption that we were here as a group so we have the option of backup if we need it, though. Did something happen to you?

[Evan has not yet tried to use his own powers since the fade began.]

Nothing too different from everyone else, I figure.

[ maybe not everyone's open with that, but he can see it--once-bright figures getting duller and duller... ]

It doesn't matter--it's not important. Who knows if they even invented something like glasses here anyway?

I would say a loss of vision is somewhat important.

[He's mildly appalled by this other man's disregard for his own state of health, and now he really can't resist meddling -- er, trying to help, of course.]

Well, I mean, have you even looked? They don't seem to have much metalwork, but I'm fairly certain there's got to have been at least one of these people who's worked with glass. And if they've got glass, maybe they've got lenses.

[He frowns, a thoughtful expression rather than a dire one.] I could help you look. I have to hunt around the market for a bit in any case.

[He was stressing himself into a tizz over Plagg, but Riku is a familiar shock of pale hair and his stumbling sends Adrien into his line of vision. A moment later, he reaches out and sets his hands on either of Riku's shoulders.]

Maybe try letting someone who can see help you out?

[ when he feels a familiar tingle of energy, he almost starts to speak--you should get out of here, chat--they don't like cats before he blinks.

and that's not chat noir, it's adrien. but... that's not right. they both smell the same. so that means...

hah. all this time, huh? ]

I think most people're busy. Looks like I finally found you, though.

[He quirks his mouth in a crooked grin, shaking his head.]

If we're being technical, I found you, but I guess that's probably because apparently you can't see. You need to get somewhere?

[ his ears heat up, bright red. ]

I--I can see fine!

[ he totally didn't just say that he couldn't see. ]

[A careful smile, and he pats Riku's shoulders.]

All right, my mistake. My offer of getting you somewhere still stands.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

EVENT ★ EXPLORATION

riku | ota

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