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

[likemyfatherbeforeme]

Are you... Will you be all right? [ There's honest concern in Luke's voice as he speaks, that same desire to help, to make things right in some small way. His father, this man he has just met, needs him. He knows it deep inside of him, in the thrill that shoots through him when Anakin's hand covers his own, the way that his heart aches, the way that he's near to tears on account of a woman he has never met.

They are both alone now, they're both adrift. They're both all that the other has left. He couldn't leave even if he wanted to.

When he was twelve or so, news came from Anchorhead that Aunt Beru's brother had died in an accident. Luke can still remember the day in flashes: the way the bowl she had been carrying rolled along the ground, making cup after cup of tea in the hope that it was at least something, standing there silent while she clung to him and sobbed. Even as a child he'd felt it wasn't enough. Somehow he should be able to do more, to take some of that pain onto himself. In the end, all that he could do was stay.

He'll do as much for his father now, even if it still isn't enough. It may never be enough, but that won't stop him. ]

Please. If there's anything I can do or anything that I can tell you...

[ His news caused this grief. Now it's up to him to try and fix it as best as he can. ]

[apoptotic]

[ no, he's not all right. he has not been that for a long time. the war, his losses, they took that away. three years of it. long enough to forget there had been a "before." long enough to adopt a steady creeping of dread as his new baseline. it isn't something that can be fixed.

things can be. he knows that better than most, better than anyone — he who can fix anything given to him. it led to his purchase when he was still too young to really remember having had a previous owner. it led to his freedom with a podracer he built himself. anakin can fix anything…except people. those he does not yet know how. and he won't be all right. not until he does.

but the expression he settles on luke is kind. curiosity almost eases the flatness of his eyes. ( almost. ) his anger, his grief, his suffocating sensation of dread— those are forcefully set aside. it is the most enduring lesson the jedi taught him.

( around his chest, the bands between his ribs slip tighter, and tighter. ) ]

We should get you settled. Where have you been staying? [ anakin pauses, unsure how to continue. he cannot order luke to remain with him. they will map out their relationship eventually, but for the moment, not knowing where the limits lie…it's awkward. ]

[likemyfatherbeforeme]

[ Anakin doesn't want to talk about it. So they won't talk about it. Luke isn't disappointed really, if anything he's feeling something closer to jealousy. Some part of him can't help wishing that he could recover from things so easily, or at least act like it. After Ben Kenobi -someone he'd only known for a few days- had died he'd been so devastated that Leia had comforted him. Leia. The woman who had lost her entire family and planet not long before. It's embarrassing when he thinks about it in hindsight, but that's the thing. At the time he wasn't thinking, only feeling. So he can't help but be a little impressed by Anakin's apparent ability to turn inconvenient emotions off entirely.

It's probably the wrong thing to be taking away from all of this.

Mistakes happen. ]

I just arrived today, so nowhere yet. But somebody said something about an inn?

[ Luke stands, brushing sand off of his knees before extending a hand to help his father up. If he wants it. ]

[apoptotic]

[ more terrible examples will follow. for the moment, anakin takes the proffered hand and allows luke to pull him up. on their feet, he has almost a head over luke. he and padmé met halfway. it's funny; it hurts. ]

There's one or two around. They're a little on the small side; you've seen the Nalawi.

[ and there are many of them, the most recent visitors to the islands. long used to making do without a bed for long stretches if need be, anakin had not bothered with a room. he worked, slept when sleep overcame him, stood for food, to watch or to meditate — and repeated it all over again. ]

If you want a room, I'll walk you to the closest inn.

[likemyfatherbeforeme]

Is that where you're staying?

[ If anything, it's possible that Luke's voice is a bit too hopeful. It can't be helped though. Because, now that he's found Anakin, Luke can't imagine staying anywhere else. Abstractly he knows that the other man probably needs his own time and space to come to grips with a dead wife and a sudden nineteen year old son everything. And that's well and good. But at the same time, Luke doesn't want even that relatively brief separation. It's been nineteen years and he still has too many questions, too many pent up feelings that have finally found a place to turn.

You're never getting rid of him now, Anakin. ]

[apoptotic]

[ this is the boy supposed to destroy him? earnest in every action, as bright as double suns, untouched by war and the dark? this boy, eyeing him as one would a hero stepped out of the holonet?

anakin ducks his head in self-conscious gesture. he isn't the man luke thinks he is. not near as good as he must believe. but it's a warm feeling, nonetheless. sweet and poignant and, above all, humbling. padmé would love him, and it feels right. ]

I find my own space. I'm used to sleeping outside. [ a little pause. ] If you don't mind it…

[likemyfatherbeforeme]

I don't!

[ The words are out in a rush before Luke can stop to think. Too hopeful again, too eager. Dial it down, Skywalker, dial it down. But it's so hard not to be, no matter the impression that he might want to make. He's well aware of how he must look to his father -a man who can't be that much older than he is, but seems to have decades more of experience- and he couldn't help it if he tried. ]

I mean, I've slept in worse places before. Trust me.

[apoptotic]

[ anakin holds up his hands as if to ward off a blow, but he's smiling. then before he's aware of it, he's laughing. not at luke — anakin wouldn't be so unkind with him — but it's funny.

for a moment, he thinks he understands obi-wan's old gripes when anakin had still been a young and overeager padawan. ]

Okay. I believe you. [ his laugh relaxes into a smile. ] I'll show you around. You can tell me about those places.

[ and father and son had a great life, good neighbor finn could raid their pantry for food, and kylo ren got eaten by sharks. the end. ]