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]

What? [A voice. He's hearing a voice, a...familiar voice. Keats looks up, his eyes, of course, meeting thin air. Even in this state, he's still holding on tight to his own disbelief.]

Hey, I remember you. From the mirrors, right? What was your name? [He tries to wrack his brain, for now ignoring North's question. Of course he's not okay. He's never going to admit it, though.] Uh...East? South?

[thebelly]

Bah! It is North. [ Even in his state of distress he can't stand the idea of someone getting his name wrong - Nicholas St. North, everybody.

Luckily, he doesn't dwell on it too long - ] You are looking... not so good.

[ He refuses to drop the subject, (not-so-)gently reminding Keats that they were definitely talking about something before he decided to get North's name wrong. ] It is affecting you, too?

[headlining]

Ah, yes. North. [Right.] And really? Is it that obvious?

[His tone is laced with sharp sarcasm, because if there's anything he likes to lean on when situations go where he doesn't want them to go, it's, well, being as smarmy as possible. He doesn't have the energy to try to be anything close to positive about this whole thing.]

What's affecting me? What, are you sick, too?

[thebelly]

Er - yes.

[ Yeah - sarcasm and North are like oil and water; they won't mix, and it's unlikely he'll ever get the hang of looking out for it. So - ] Just little bit! [ This is 100% all genuine and heart, Keats. ]

Bah, it is not sickness! [ Keats please get it through your head, North already talked to you about this?! ] It is like native's gifts going poof.

Only - [ The situation has gotten serious enough that Keats definitely needs to hear it, North decides. ] it is looking like we are also disappearing.

[headlining]

Gifts? [Already, he doesn't like where this is going. His hand trembles as he reaches to push his glasses up.]

I-I'm not disappearing. I'm just sick. [He knows, deep down, it's not any regular sickness. A pause, as he gestures to the empty space in front of him.] I can't tell if you're disappearing because of your...not being there. So sorry if I don't exactly take you at your word.

[thebelly]

[ Keats have you heard of this river in Egypt, it might be the perfect fit for you -- ]

Bah! Just because you cannot see me, it does not mean I am not here. [ He corrects, because for a magical being Keats sure has just about everything backwards. In some ways, it's incredibly frustrating; magical beings here need all the help they can get at the moment, but if the man continues to deny his very existence--

North lets out a sigh. ] We are running out of time, Keats. [ ... ] This is emergency!

[headlining]

[North, he owns all the stock options in The Nile. It practically belongs to him.]

Right right, because you're a spirit. [He says, with a frustrated sigh.] I know.

[He looks like he has the urge to bury his head in his hands. They've talked about this before, and he's ready to just write this conversation off for good, but...]

[That's interesting. What is North talking about? He eyes the space in front of him, arching an eyebrow.]

...Huh? What emergency? What's going on?

[thebelly]

You cannot feel--- [ No, that's not true, the man looks like he could really use a good night's sleep and maybe a full meal, he can feel it, it's obvious --

But he won't acknowledge it. ] You are aware that... the natives are losing their gifts.

It is affecting us as well. We are losing who we are. Some are losing abilities. [ He explains, slowly, now that he has information - there's no reason for him to hide any information here, not when this is a team effort. ]

That is why you are feeling ... like this. [ He makes a vague hand gesture, joy sapped out of his tone. What a bleak situation, when put this way. ]

[headlining]

Yes, so I've heard. So...what, it's affecting us, too?

[Honestly, he hadn't made the connection. What kind of reporter is he, to not do that? He almost wants to kick himself, it seems so obvious, now...]

[He latches onto something which isn't quite as close to the truth - a loss of abilities. He just has abilities which are being tampered with. He can keep himself from skirting over the edge into the truth. It's easier to dwell on a simple lie than even start to acknowledge what he is.]

Didn't think of it that way, but...losing abilities... [He frowns, eyes darting a little as he tries to think.] That so? Huh. And what's causing it, then, do you have any idea?