futurologists: (Default)
Hathaway. ([personal profile] futurologists) wrote in [community profile] epidemiology2016-04-01 07:59 pm

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.
heavyhitter: you got away with murder (you got a way with words)

CLAWS BACK INTO THE STATES.....

[personal profile] heavyhitter 2016-04-14 08:16 am (UTC)(link)
[ Really, Ramir doesn't mind venturing into the lava tunnels. The idea is even pretty neat. You just gotta play it cool, it's important for the image. So doesn't bother to answer his message, because she's pretty close anyway, and saunters over toward where she knows the nearest entrance of the tunnels to be. True, it might not be where he is, but her gamble pays off when he comes into sight. Nice. ]

Free, no, it'll probably cost you. But available, sure.

[ She smiles brightly. She has, of course, played to her own strengths and brought nothing at all (except the ever-present cellphone in her pocket, and the jewelry at her wrist). If worse came to worst she's pretty sure she could just punch her way out of a tunnel. ]
evantuality: u___u (u___u)

\o/

[personal profile] evantuality 2016-04-16 05:07 am (UTC)(link)
[Ramir startles him, but it's a startle that's quickly forgotten when he recognizes that voice. He pops to his feet, and when she sasses he scoffs.]

I think we discussed this. You're being paid in quantum treasure, which just now both exists and does not exist, and it's up to you to observe which.

[He looks her over and puts his hands on her hips. In a purely social context Ramir would be -- in fact, is -- kind of intimidating to Evan. Never has someone with spikes on their jacket been willing to give him the time of day. But this is not a social context, it's an expedition that he's more or less leading, and he gives Ramir a disapproving look he wouldn't have felt free to otherwise.]

Well, it looks as if it's a good thing I brought extra rope. Did you even bring a light source?
heavyhitter: (if you're with me let me see your hands)

[personal profile] heavyhitter 2016-04-16 07:32 am (UTC)(link)
[ Yeah, yeah, the quantum treasure. She rolls her eyes, but doesn't contest it. If they really don't find anything down there, she'll find a way to hold it against him. A loophole in their verbal contract.

She brightens at his question though, and digs into a pocket to produce a cellphone. It's pastel pink with a little white dog charm on it. (Stolen, clearly. She likes the complete mismatch of it to her, though.)
]

This thing's got a great flashlight on it.
evantuality: o___O (o___O)

[personal profile] evantuality 2016-04-16 07:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[He stares at the phone, brows raising, hands still on his hips. 'Stolen' doesn't come to mind -- he's the trusting sort, really -- but the contrast between the phone and the owner is a hell of a thing. He wrinkles his nose.]

How much juice does that thing have left? Mine barely lasts a couple of days between recharges, forget a couple of weeks.

Oh, if it runs out I'll just lend you a coconut. Come on. [There are three of the coconut lamps he's got attached to his pack: that seemed enough to cast a fair amount of light without getting too absurdly cumbersome. He turns back to the pit with purpose in his posture, and heads for the set of teeny deer-sized steps that lead down into the darkness.]

I actually poked my head down here earlier, the first week we were here. It was a total mess down here after that storm, but there are a ton of tubes that head mostly directly towards or directly away from the volcano. I'm thinking it might be more illuminating to head towards the volcano, honestly.