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

hdu throw shade at his fashion choices, dany, it is a great jacket

[likemyfatherbeforeme]

[ Luke squints up at her for a moment, visible embarrassment warring with a need to seem at least marginally less hopeless this soon into everything. But, try as he might, there's no possible way that little performance can be passed off as deliberate and he knows it. He isn't Han. He can't somehow magically turn his moment of panic into something cool and mostly intentional. (One day though. One day he'll figure out the secret.)

Until then he just has to do his best to get through this without any further awkwardness. ]

Huh?

[ See? Off to a flying start already. ]

I mean, no. No, I'm fine. Thank you. [ He lifts himself to his feet as he speaks, but not with the help of her offered hand. What's left of his pride is still very firm on that point. ] I just... stumbled.

sure, jan-luke

[conqueress]

[ Of all the people she's offered her hand to, he is the only one who has refused her. She withdraws it, a touch surprised, but allows him to reclaim a shred of his dignity. (In the process, he claims a shred of her regard.) ]

You are not to blame, [ she tells him, not unkindly. There is no need to explain; he seems new to their ranks, looking as flummoxed by their surroundings as he is by her gesture. He is so earnest, she almost pities him. ] No one should be expected to find footing in another world all at once. You will learn the terrain of these islands quickly, for all that is worth.

[ The distaste is clear in her tone, but the day is too hot (and too short) to summon her fury toward ALASTAIR. ]

[likemyfatherbeforeme]

You've been here a while, then?

[ Longer than him, obviously. It seems that everyone has been here longer than he has, but it doesn't appear to bother him much. It was the same in the Rebellion (though with less beaches) and he was used to it, just as he was used to remaining on the edges of his friends at home. The youngest, the smallest, the most inexperienced, always something. Now he'll just have to get to proving himself all over again. ]

I've never been anywhere like this before. So hopefully getting used to it oesn't take too long. Some time to just enjoy it all might be nice. [ As far as attempted conversations with attractive girls go, this one is pretty bad even by Luke's standards. But at least it's an attempt. ]

[conqueress]

Weeks. Months. What does it matter? [ She looks at him helplessly; why does he seem so content? Was he not given the same introduction she'd heard? They are branded now, borne hither and thither by some unseen current, and made to accede to ALASTAIR's wishes. ] Make merry, if that is your desire. Save leaving, you may do as you think best.

[ That was more dismissive than she'd intended, though her tone was precisely as bitter as her words had merited, and so she tries to temper the sting with a smile. I am an old woman now, complaining of my pains. ] If you have never seen the sea before, then from where do you hail?

[ The map snaps sharply in her grasp, ruffled by a strong wind, and she allows it to dangle by one hand, wondering idly how far it might fly if she released it. ]

[likemyfatherbeforeme]

[ He frowns at her comment about making merry, on the verge of protesting that that wasn't what he meant, but he manages to hold back. Who actually says things like from where do you hail? No one outside of a holodrama talks like that, not even Leia at her most formal. What good would sullen complaining do in the face of that other than make him look even more Outer Rim than he already is?

Luke shrugs, rubbing at the back of his neck and scuffing a foot in the sand before he can catch himself and straighten. He's a hero now, not a farmboy, and he has to start acting like it. It would be easier though if some part of him didn't keep trying to send him back there whenever he starts to feel embarrassed. ]

Tatooine. Don't worry if you've never heard of it. There's nothing much worth hearing about unless you like deserts. [ A slight pause and then, ] Where are you from?

[conqueress]

[ Who actually says things like that? Dragon queens, apparently.

She notices how shyly he seems to drag a toe in the sand, and softens, some of the chilly formality fleeing her face. He'd meant no ill; she can see that, even if she has great difficulty retiring her queenly mask. Still, it's curious to see a demeanor like that on someone her age, seeming almost more boy than man. ]

An ancient city. I have seen deserts enough. [ If I look back, I am lost. To go forward, I must go back. She pushes the memory of Dothraki corpses out of her mind. ] My city is called Meereen, but that is only for now. My true home lies across the sea in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.

[ She is so long accustomed to people giving her their names first that it scarcely crosses her mind that she hasn't yet given hers. ] What is your name? [ she prompts, raising silver brows expectantly. ]

[likemyfatherbeforeme]

Oh, yeah. Probably should've said that sooner. [ There it is again. That feeling of not quite fitting, of doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. It doesn't help that he's never exactly been at his best when interacting with young women. Anchorhead and its outskirts were never a prime spot to encounter teenaged girls (and the ones that were there were all taken, with the jealous boyfriends to prove it) and the lack of experience shows. And Leia... Well, Leia had been something else. Besides, there hadn't been time to feel awkward or unsure of himself with Imperial troops closing in.

But back to the matter at hand.

How do people greet one another in Mereen? Do they bow? Shake hands? Is he going to horribly shock or offend her with whatever he choses to do/not do? Threepio would probably know. But since he's not here Luke will just have to risk it. ]

I'm Luke. Luke Skywalker. You?

poor babby luke

[conqueress]

[ He is earnest, she judges, perhaps in all that he does. ]

A brave name. [ But is it an honest one? She likes Skywalker; it puts her in mind of flying. Thoughtfully, she regards him as she might a petitioner to her ebon bench, though she is forced to tilt her chin upward slightly to meet his height. ] How did you come by it?

[ She assumes he is like her: born to another name, but called Skywalker for his deeds. ]

I am Daenerys Stormborn, though I will admit I am unused to hearing that name. [ Her smile fades. ] In Meereen, I am a queen.

the editing is strong with this one

[likemyfatherbeforeme]

[ First things first. Luke only has the vaguest idea of what to do when confronted with royalty, but it can't hurt to do it now. So he bows slightly now, or at least tries to, though it feels forced and unfamiliar. He's only done that once with Leia, when she gave him his medal on Yavin, and that was it. All in all, their relationship would probably be seen as shockingly informal by Daenerys. He can't even recall ever calling her Your Highness. ]

How did I come by it?

[ He hesitates, partly out of confusion (since joining the Rebellion he's become used to people remarking on the name, the ones who remember his father, but not asking outright where it came from), partly out of some lingering reticence from his years on Tatooine. When the name was remarked on there it wasn't because of Anakin Skywalker, jedi knight and hero of the Republic. Before that he had been a slave and some people had long memories. ]

I was born with it. My father was Anakin Skywalker. His mother was a Skywalker. We've just always been Skywalkers I guess. ...Your Highness.