epidemiology | 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

[Sakura herself is starting to feel it a little, a little more exhausted than usual. But for the time being, she puts it down to her attempts to aid the locals with the storm and aftermath and all. Not really yet realizing the truth.

Besides, she can't be all that tired or down when there's a party planned! She turns when she sees him, eyes drawn to the lamps, clasping her hands together in appreciation before she reaches for them.]

Ah, no, they're wonderful, Graham-san! Very pretty. Did you make them yourself?

[Somehow, she shouldn't be surprised if he did. He's got a lot of hidden talents, for one seemingly without any sort of magic whatsoever. Still, the mention of her family is a bit of a downer, of course she'd love to celebrate with them too.]

It can't be helped if they aren't here. That's probably best, really. With these missions. But I have you and everyone else here to help! And to make this a really fun day!

I did, actually.

( he's quite good with his hands, and that means more than just being a decent shot. he's learned how to provide for himself with what nature has to offer him more so than anything else, and that means he can be quite creative when he sets his mind to it. he'd never made a coconut votive before, but he's moderately proud of how they turned out. moderate, of course, because ego isn't an easy thing to reach heartless.

he should have known better to mention her parents, yet there are some delicacies of conversation he still fails at. he's more the Huntsman now than he was the sheriff from Maine. the Huntsman was not known for his elegant conversation skills. )

I hope you are having fun. You only turn twelve once, after all, you should get to enjoy it.

You did? But -- you really are amazing Graham-san!

[No, Sakura will never stop saying that. And meaning it. Because she herself is pretty hopeless at making things. Well, she can, but it's usually still resulting in hurting herself somehow in the process. Not if it's something she makes by hand, anyway. Or she forgets some integral aspect of it, like forgetting to add a door to a birdhouse or the like.]

You only have any birthday the once, silly! But you're right. It has been fun.

( there's a smile at that, perhaps because Graham thinks that pointing out she only has a birthday once is some kind of joke (is it???). still, he is in a good mood, as good as he can be, despite a bit of weariness. )

I guess you're right about that. If you've only got the one go, we better make the most of it. What else does the birthday girl have in mind for her day?

( if it's the volleyball net, he is happy to play a game with her, even though he might not be the best. it is technically his first time! )

We should! All of us, when our birthdays come up!

[Even if she isn't exactly sure when other's birthdays are. She should probably ask, if she is to be sure on returning the favor to the ALASTAIR recruits that do some to join in and celebrate. Especially Graham.]

I guess I didn't really think beyond having fun here with some swimming and volleyball....

( she might be waiting for a long time on that one. he doesn't remember his birthday from the forest. wolves didn't really celebrate those. he doesn't remember one implanted by the curse, either. it figures that the queen wouldn't want him to have any reason to celebrate. he wouldn't have a day to give her if she asked, and that's rather sad. he hopes she never does. )

Perhaps you can just show us the basics, then. I think a few of us would like to learn.

( it's not just members of ALISTAIR at the party; a few of the villagers have joined them, too, and are looking over the net with obvious curiosity. )

[Graham's birthday would be skewed with the whole Curse thing regardless. But Sakura would still be very upset if and when she did hear about that.]

Oh! Ah, of course! So, we get into two teams on each side of the net, right? And then we hit the ball with our hands to try get it across the net to the other side. The aim is to not let it touch the ground!

[And here, she gestures for Graham to stand at the other side of the net, before giving a quick demonstration herself in serving to start them off and hitting it over the net.]

( each of them with a pair of natives on their team, it was a fairly balanced start. Sakura managed a good serve and the instructions were quite clear, but the natives still seemed rather uncertain about trying to hit the ball.

oh well, that meant he could get the first one over... hopefully... it was a sloppy hit but he did manage to bounce it back to Sakura's side. hopefully she could get her villagers brave enough to try and hit it in return. )

[Sakura isn't the nearest to it, so she calls for one of the others closer to the net to try and hit it back. They give it a valiant attempt, but just barely miss and end up falling over backwards.

Sakura checks that they are okay, before helping them up and attempting it again, serving the ball back over and this time attempting to then hit it back over herself.]

Like this!

( it's good that he's heartless because it'd probably be wrong to laugh at the poor natives, that really do look like deer in the headlights when it comes to playing volleyball. oh well, it's not about getting points or winning, it's about having fun.

and as his teammates clump together to try and hit the ball back together, they do seem to be having a good time. even if the ball hits the net and slumps back to the sand. )

Good try. ( he shows the pair how to properly serve it over the net and suggests, ) Let's see how many times we can get it back and forth.

( they'd worry about combining rules once the technique was mastered. )

[Having fun is the main objective here, really. That and teaching a new game for everyone to potentially enjoy. Sakura can try give them something new, something more to help them pass the time, even if it is a simple game in theory.

She herself tries to demonstrate while also giving them a chance to try hit the ball or serve themselves. At the very least, they seem pretty determined and do improve after a bit more practice.]

EVENT ★ EXPLORATION

party all up in here!

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