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]

[ 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.