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

[chataclysmic]

[He's pretty sure the whole of that just soared right on over his head, but that happens a lot when you're an oblivious dunderfuck. He frowns at her and shrugs mildly, nodding.]

...can't hurt, I guess. Um-- [Holding out a hand to her.] I'm Adrien, and I probably should have said that sooner after running full-tilt into you.

[unoradinary]

[She takes his hand in return, shaking it with a firm grip he likely expected considering how tightly she'd held onto him during the flooding.]

Hey, don't worry about it; seems like you're havin' an off enough day as it is. Name's Ranmaru, but just call me Ran.

[With that she lets go of his hand, gesturing towards a bench nearby and walking over to it.]

C'mon.

[chataclysmic]

[It's not surprising, at least-- though he's glad it's less tight than her fearful clinging, he likes his hands unbroken. He offers a brief smile and a nod of his head.]

Nice to meet, you, Ran. Sorry you're meeting me when I'm too busy running into people to introduce myself properly. I promise I'm usually better about it.

[unoradinary]

Hey, seriously dude, it's cool. I think a lotta folks are out of it today too...

[He isn't the first person she's run into like this, after all. When she picks out something to sit on, Ranmaru calls him over to follow and sits down alongside him.]

Maybe it was something you ate?

[chataclysmic]

[He folds himself onto the bench carefully, hands gripping the edge of it piled on top of each other between his knees. He looks like a scolded child or a guilty pet, mostly, and chuckles quietly in thought.]

I actually don't think I've eaten today, I kinda stressed myself out of an appetite.

sorry about the delay, had to hiatus cause of some irl stuff

[unoradinary]

Eh? Oi, c'mon...that ain't good. I know sometimes it's tough but you still gotta eat.

[She might not look it considering the delinquent getup she's got going, but Ranmaru is in fact a concerned older sister type.]

What's got you so stressed?

no worries!! i've been awful at tags lately and with notifs being borked...

[chataclysmic]

[An apologetic laugh, and one of his hands shifts from the bench to set at the back of his neck, fidgeting.]

I'm not doing it on purpose, I just kinda forgot 'cause I'm not really hungry. A, ... friend of mine. Is really sick, I think.