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

[headlining]

You shouldn't be in the way.

[He says, with a sneer, not even looking at Dipper but at some spot on the ground a few inches away from him. In any normal circumstance, he would at least say "sorry", but he's in far too bad a mood and state to really drudge up the energy to care.]

[He raises a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose with a quiet groan.]

People are walking here, you know?

[twinpeak]

[ ... Okay, apparently this guy is just in an awful mood! Dipper gazes up at the stranger, expression pinched together in a subtle frown, and notices he doesn't look as if he's completely there; out of it, of sorts. Which explains some things.

Luckily, Dipper isn't exactly an argumentative boy, either. He dusts the dirt off his knees and pushes himself back up on his feet, adjusting the backpack slung over his shoulders. ]

Okay, okay! Honest mistake. [ On both their ends, but that goes unsaid. ] Didn't think we'd have a crowd coming through here.

[headlining]

Well, it seems popular. I mean, if I saw a big garden, I'd wander over to check it out. [A pause.] Which is what I did, actually. Yes.

[Wow, that sounded stupid. He's a writer, for heaven's sake, he shouldn't be this bad at saying things. He shakes his head, letting out a sigh.

[Thankfully for Dipper, his bad mood seems to have passed for the moment, though he still looks like he woke up on the wrong side of bed for the last year or so.]

So, uh...what were you doing?

[twinpeak]

[ Bad at saying things? Hey, join the club. ]

Well, y'know... Just wandered over to check the place out. [ Case in point. Dipper gestures at the brush, where long, tropical leaves fade from purple to green. Slightly unusual for the average Earth dwelling resident to lay eyes upon. ] The plants are—different? Not that I'm an expert or anything. It's just a little interesting, I guess.

[headlining]

Ah, but you're no botanist. Just...an enthusiast of curious things, I suppose.

[For the first time in this conversation, he gives Dipper a smile - it's a small one, but it's a smile, nonetheless.]

I'm one too, actually. That's why I came to check the gardens, see what sorts of mysteries they have to offer. It's technically part of my job back home, actually.

[twinpeak]

[ Oh, good, this is all going in a better direction. Bad mood diverted! For the moment, anyway, but Dipper will take what he can get. Especially when the magic words are spoken—to see the mysteries offered. It's entirely too accurate to say Dipper is an enthusiast of curious things, and a boy who's always on the lookout for adventure.

So consider his curiosity piqued at those words. ]

Really? Does that mean you're some sort of detective?

[headlining]

[And oh, now he's letting out a laugh. Looks like this topic is one he approves of - his work is something he's very proud of, after all.]

Oh, me? In a way, I suppose! [He says, the slightest bit of color returning to his cheeks, though he still looks incredibly exhausted.] I'm a reporter, actually. I work for an occult magazine called Unknown Realms, and investigating strange things the bump in the night so I can write about them is what I do.