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

[mortyfied]

[Unlike his grandfather, Morty doesn't mind the company that Keats is currently providing. It's certainly better than digging in silence or watching his grandfather dig and complain about how he should suck it up and join in... and, Keats seems like a nice guy on top of it!

So, when he notices Rick lift that shovel over his head, Morty will quickly move a couple steps forward and glare daggers at his grandfather. He holds his arms out, ready to stop him and if Rick looks over at his grandson, he'll notice Morty mouth the word: "Don't."

We really.. really don't need random murder on our hands right now, Rick...]

skips tag order because i can

[ricksybusiness]

[Rick stares back at Morty but eventually acquiesces, lowering the shovel without whacking Keats over the head with it. He doesn't look particularly pleased about it, though.

Morty Smith: saving people from psychopathic relatives one shovel at a time.]

Or maybe not. W-what do I know?

oh my god

[headlining]

[If Keats wasn't currently suffering from the terrible sickness of "kind of wasting away because of limiting magic that creates him", he would've had the capacity and attention to notice something amiss.]

[But since he is currently sick and has his mind completely fogged up, he probably would've been a goner if Rick had decided to take his chance and end his life right there.]

[He turns back towards the two, ever so blissfully unaware he was .2 seconds away from getting murdered.]

That slow going, huh? [A pause.] I don't suppose you need help?

yw

[ricksybusiness]

[Rick rolls his eyes in Morty's direction at that. You made him spare this chump's life, Morty; he's your responsibility now.]

I don't know. Do we, Morty?

[mortyfied]

[But.. but he doesn't want to have the responsibility of taking care of a sickly, old guy...

Though, Rick's obviously annoyance at the situation, and being stopped from killing this poor man kind of miffs Morty himself... so after giving his grandfather a narrowed glare in response to Rick's rolled eyes, he smiles up at Keats.]

Y-yeah, we'd love some help actually! Th-thanks!

[headlining]

Oh, good. [He says, with a smile back at Morty. Honestly, doing anything is better than moping around sick, and although he might not have all the energy to help this all the way through, he'll do what he can.]

[He turns and gestures to the shovel in Rick's hand.]

Just tell me what to do. I'm not half bad when it comes to digging things out.

[ricksybusiness]

[Morty, you are getting your ass kicked later. Just wait for it. Rick makes a threatening expression at Morty in response to Morty's glare, so, y'know. They are not exactly hiding how much they dislike each other, sorry bout it Keats. A nice, awkward introduction to family dynamics.

But okay, if he's offering to do the physical labor... sure. Rick hands the shovel over.]

Yeah, super amazing skillset there. Digging. [This is not what a grateful person ought to say, but whatever. Rick just kind of gestures vaguely at the graves.] Dig up some shit. Look for anything valu-- interesting. Scientifically. And, uh. Don't pass out, I guess? You look like shit.

[He is just now noticing this, yes.]

[mortyfied]

[That threatening expressions gets Morty to look away from his grandpa, and instead he digs his own shovel into the dirt begrudgingly. Obviously these two have a couple of things they need to work out with each other...]

O-oh um and-- I-I don't think we told each other our names yet?

[He curiously looks up at Keats, after having dumped a shovel full of dirt to the side.]

My name's Morty, a-and this is my grandpa, Rick.

[headlining]

Goodness, those sound like incredibly difficult instructions to follow. How will I ever survive.

[He says, with narrowed eyes, as he takes the shovel from Rick - look, he might be sick, but that doesn't mean his ability for sarcasm has drained out of him with most of his energy. But he's not here to argue, so he just shakes his head. This is awkward, but hey, a little awkwardness isn't going to dissuade him.]

Thanks. I'll try not to. [He says, with a thin smile, knowing that it is very likely he might pass out - but hey, he'll do his best to keep up appearances.]

Oh, yes, I don't think we have. A pleasure to meet you both. The name's Keats. I'm a reporter back home. [He wanders over to the grave next to the one Morty's already digging up, shoving the shovel into the ground and starting to dig at a pretty good pace - even in this state, he's stronger than he looks.]

I don't suppose this is something you two are used to doing? Grave robbing, I mean. [For all he knows, they could be professionals.]

[ricksybusiness]

[A R E P O R T E R. This explains why Rick's mental alarms (that is to say, his Murder Alarms) went off at the sight of Keats -- an instinctive desire to kill paparazzi wherever they're skulking around, trying to plaster his face all over intergalactic news. So, not a narc. Even worse than a narc.

Rick grits his teeth in a forced smile, speaking through them.] Who said we were grave robbing? Ohhh, jeez, I don't like that implication at all! W-we're just trying to find a way to help these poor, displaced aliens. Maybe there will be a clue i-in here! In this graveyard.