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

[strictdiscipline]

[There's something about his explanation, the way he phrases his thoughts, that immediately reminds her of another recruit, older and shaggier and far more adamant about magic's nonexistence in the world. Her lips twitch downwards reflexively at the thought, though she's quick to straighten them out again.]

I know of several people who would agree with that statement. There's no such thing as 'magic' where I come from, so I'm still not sure what to make of all of it.

[She spreads her hands out almost helplessly to emphasize that point.]

[evantuality]

[He catches the shift of expression but writes it off, not nearly familiar enough with this person to pin it as anything meaningful. Instead he cocks his head earnestly.]

That must have been a heck of a culture shock, getting dumped somewhere with so many magic-users.

[strictdiscipline]

[Her smile turns wry again, her gaze drifting off to a pair of Nalawi with still enough gift left to coax a few buds into blossoming.]

It certainly was. Magic was hard to believe, even when I saw it being performed right in front of me. [Here she cocks her head, a bit more mirth entering her voice.] Though I have to say, now that I'm more used to it, magic seems like an awfully handy skill to have.

[evantuality]

You know, you'd think that. [Alright, so there's a chance that Evan is lightly salty about his own marginally useful skillset. Being able to sit in a bonfire to warm up in winter is nice, and being able to pick pizza pockets up out of the oven without burning your hands is spectacular for a college student, but flinging fireballs around is so not his style that sometimes Evan questions the family he was born into.

But he huffs and deflects, not wanting to talk about himself too much.]

Back on my version of Earth, all that magic that's around is either... bits and dregs people have managed to latch onto, or innate skills, and humans never have the latter. And it's all persnickety in one way or another. Consequences, limitations -- I mean, in some cases so many of both that it doesn't seem worth it. I once met a seer who gave up her actual eyesight for the job, and had to basically go underground because she didn't realize it'd make her -- well, her empty eyesockets glow. [That'd been a gross sight, more gross than he can quite express, and so he quickly moves on.] You start wandering around with glowing holes in your face back home, curious assholes are liable to start thinking about dissecting you.

[strictdiscipline]

[Glowing empty eyesockets....the ghastly image is enough to make Riza recoil back half a centimeter, face scrunching up in mild disgust. It's easy enough to see, now, why magic might not be such a great thing, and she's inwardly grateful that ALASTAIR hadn't opted to pass along fire magic in exchange for some body part of hers.]

Well, there's plenty of opportunities here for those who aren't capable of any magic whatsoever.

[Whether Evan chooses to see that as a good or bad thing is entirely up to him.]

Actually, we could probably do with more people willing to use their heads rather than their muscles or whatever magical skills might've been given to them.

[evantuality]

[He makes a noise of agreement and points at her with the back end of his pencil for emphasis.] You're not wrong...

...oh, I haven't even asked your name yet, have I? [He sounds lightly aggrieved at his own oversight, and in a moment he's shuffling his sketchbook and his pencil to one arm and offering up his hand for a handshake of greeting. This woman seems the sort to warrant the courtesy, in any case.]

I'm Evan Friave-Goodlace, but please do call me Evan. Earth, twenty-first century, Canada.

[strictdiscipline]

[It never quite strikes her to do introductions during missions any longer, not out of any sense of discourtesy but simply because there's always been so little time. But she's more than happy to return the introduction, fingers wrapping around Evan's own to give him a firm shake.]

Riza Hawkeye, Lieutenant in the Amestris State Military. [And then, a bit sheepishly:] From 1911 Amestris, I suppose. No one here has ever heard about it, but I have heard a little about Earth from other recruits.

[Though probably not enough to form any sort of coherent knowledge base about it.]

Should we wrap this one up soon and start something new?

[evantuality]

[His handshake is warm, and his nose wrinkles with his grin as she says that.] I'm sure you've heard of several Earths, even. I'm fairly certain almost all of us are from different versions of our world, which does tend to make things confusing.

Is Amestris the name of your country, or your world?

sounds good! o7

[strictdiscipline]

My country. There are a number of different countries surrounding mine: Drachma and Xing, to name a few.

[Nonsensical words to Evan, perhaps, but there're familiar undertones to it if he tilts his head 35 degrees and squints. (Metaphorically, of course.)]

It's a strange thought though, that there are so many different worlds out there. I don't know that I'll ever be able to wrap my mind around it.

[evantuality]

[He's never sure if linguistic similarities are quirks of the strange translation system ALASTAIR has in place for its recruits as it tries to draw equivalencies between worlds, or whether the nouns are getting parsed correctly.

Evan grins.]

Who can, really? At home, it's just an idea that gets batted around by theoretical physicists who like to dream big, and conspiracy theorists with bad memories. I'm not sure I'd believe it if I hadn't seen so much for myself.

[He sits back, still smiling, and smooths his hands over his sketchbook. As he's been here, he's become more aware of just how much his enthusiastic interrogations are a thing that get him mixed responses at best, and so rather than chase the chain of questions he's developing about Riza's world, he takes the more polite path.]

I'd love to hear more about your world, if we end up with a free afternoon around here sometime. I admit, it's the non-Earth worlds that leave me the most curious.

[strictdiscipline]

[That's enough to elicit a burst of laughter from Riza - genuine and surprised - though not necessarily for the reasons he might think. What she wouldn't give for a few afternoons off, especially after all that's happened. (Chantes, mostly, but also the beginning bits of Oska.)]

ALASTAIR hasn't been very generous with free afternoons lately.

[At least not in her own experience. She supposes it might be different for others more inclined to slack off than she. Regardless—]

But I'd be happy to, provided I get to learn more about your world as well. I'm finding out there's a lot I don't know that I should.

[Like useful modern technology and to a lesser extent, Siri. For now though, she settles her palms against the bench and pushes, shifting back into a standing position before swiveling to face Evan.]

I should get back to work though. Clean-up won''t happen all by itself, after all.

[And she's still too stiff to slack for too long.]

[evantuality]

[Evan grins, bright and sheepish both, as she stands. He pats his book.] And I suppose I should finish this up and join everyone else, shouldn't I. There's only so long I should fritter away practicing my drawing chops, specimens or no.

I'm glad we could chat.

[Raising a hand, he gives a lightly awkward but quite genuine wave of farewell when it looks like she's about to leave. Once she's gone he turns back to his sketchbook, buoyed and cheered by the warm glow of a genuinely enjoyable interaction.]