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

W-we're looking for... [Shit to use for experiments, is the answer but Rick isn't too keen on letting strangers know their business.]

U-uh.. anything cool buried in here? [He gives Aradia a sheepish smile, and takes Rick's shovel from him finally to start digging.]

You can take any skull you want, though. I-I-I don't mind!

[While these two kids really hit it off (and Rick immediately starts thinking about hybrid human/alien great-grandchildren), Rick takes his flask out of his coat and makes himself at home perching on a tombstone. Watching children dig up graves for him. This isn't ghoulish at all.]

Yeahhhh, cool stuff. [Including: tissue samples; various molds, spores, and fungus; and also anything shiny they can sell at the deer black market or whatever. Cool stuff.]

I'm Rick. This is my grandson, Morty. What, uh... what's the deal with skulls?

[ She leans on her shovel for a moment, and looks up, brushing some hair away from her face. ]

Well, I figure if I am going to take a souvenir, the skull is the most easily identifiable part. I don't know yet if ALASTAIR would let me take it back with me, but it's worth a shot.

[ Not that she would blame them, but she would be disappointed. She sets back to digging, but shoots Morty a quick glance as she does. He seems so agreeable it's almost endearing, but that doesn't help her get a feel for whether or not he knows what he's really doing here. ]

Have you been on a dig before? Do you collect artifacts or something...?

[ Because if not bones, what other "cool stuff" would you be digging for? ]

[Morty watched the two of them talk, having taking advantage of them both being distracted to stop digging. He honestly has no idea what Rick wants them to find beyond "anything we can sell" -- but what does that include? What do deer people even want to buy...

When Aradia shoots him a glance, he freezes up with a smile and begins to dig again as well, taking that as a cue that she noticed him slacking already.]

Th-this is my first time, actually! I don't really know what to look for to be honest... b-but it's pretty cool just looking for stuff, I think!

I'd be more worried about what these yokels'll do to you if they find you carrying around a skull. Throw you in a volcano to appease their "goddess," maybe. [Air quotes and everything. Rick's disdain for religion must be made instantly clear.

Since Morty isn't slacking off, Rick doesn't have much to yell at him about, so he's happy to just watch them both do his work and drink.]

Y-yeah, Morty's a great little helper. [This is actually not sarcastic. Bask in it, Morty.] I'm a pro at this sort of stuff, though.

A pro! I have a lot of experience myself, so I was going to offer up some advice, but maybe you would like to, instead...?

[ Instead of. You know. Just sitting there. It's hard to say if she's being sincere or sarcastic, probably because it's an equal mix of both. It doesn't really deter her from her efforts at digging up some dead deer, though; even with divided attention, she's making good progress. ]

That's what humans do, right? Bond with their elders, so that the experience of their ancestors can be passed down generationally? I would not want to interfere with that!

[Ah, a genuine, 100% bonafide compliment from his grandfather... it's such a rare occurance, he probably would bask in it if there wasn't a cute girl standing five feet away from him.]

Y-y-you're not interfering with anything, it's okay! Grandpa Rick was just... I mean, we bond a lot already so don't be-- d-don't worry!

[Oh Morty, you obvious child.]

[Rick is unsure if he should take Aradia's words as insult, so he just squints at her for a second. The experience of their ancestors, what r u saying about his age, madam. He still stays leaning against this tombstone, though. Screw your needling!]

Yeah, we're... we're all full on bonding. Bonded out. [Rick also mutters something at Morty along the lines of 'chill out, they can smell desperation,' covering it up with a cough.] Anyway, I don't have any advice. Just... dig. What else is there?

What else is there?

[ She looks equal parts incredulous and eager. Oh boy, he's gone and done it now; she stops digging for a moment. She's (finally) getting the feeling that this is not what she thought it was. ]

You can just dig if you want, but what happens when your shovel digs into something actually worthwhile, and breaks it? Did you even do a survey before you started?

EVENT ★ EXPLORATION

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