OPEN ★ ARRIVAL LOG

[futurologists]

ARRIVALS ( OCT 2 ) The dragons are taken from you, sent off to a safe haven. You're back in Oska for less than a day when you hear the announcement and head to the rendezvous point. You blink, step through the portal, there's a loud crack, and... You're thrown into darkness. You taste copper and, for a moment, your ears won't stop ringing. All common side-effects of portal travel. The entire crew arrives just beyond the city gates, so you might also be feeling a little bit claustrophobic. It takes a second for the eyes to adjust, but one can make out buildings and the cobblestone beneath their feet. To the right is the Trade District, where all the vendors are gathered to sell their wares. Up ahead is the City Square, where the rest of the citizens out and about seem to be gathered. To the left of the square is the Commoners' District, and to the right of it is the Nobles' District, the two main residential areas. Further travel west will come to the outskirts, a makeshift residential area, this one densely populated with goblins. Many of the people are holding candles or lanterns. You might want to try getting your hands on one of those. If you have not already done so, your enchanted jewelry will manifest words in front of your very eyes — or sounds in your ear, if you're illiterate — asking you to identify yourself. A quick look around shows that you seem to be the only one able to see it. All you have to do is think or say how you wish to be identified. After that, you're immediately given a message. Those who participated in the dragon mission at Anwick will first receive this: We appreciate your help at Anwick. The wyrmlings will live to grow up and bring about the world's natural end. Thank you. -- ALASTAIR Afterwards, the crew will be given an abridged version of this, then told to familiarize themselves with the city and natives, report all information gathered back to ALASTAIR, and wait for further instruction. At the end of the night, wherever they may be, everyone will receive a letter with the royal seal thanking them for their efforts to end the goblins' defiance and inviting them to the Festival of Illumination on the 4th. FESTIVAL OF ILLUMINATION ( OCT 4 ) Candles are sitting on windowsills throughout the entire city, but the main event is in the city square. In the fountain float lit lotuses, and people all around are holding lanterns, waiting to light them. There's a minstrel playing songs, and several of the vendors have pulled their carts up to the square in the hopes of making a sale. Many sweets are for sale, including baked apples, gingerbread, cherry tarts, pudding, and more. There's also some drinks for sale. Some children are playing games in the corner, and others are dancing to the music or writing wishes on slips of paper to be sent into the sky with their lanterns. Everyone seems merry for once, but you'd better be careful. This is an ideal place for a pickpocket. About an hour and a half into the festival, the lanterns are sent into the sky. They're sent flying, the sky becoming filled with bright lights, until... A strong gust of wind sends all the lights out. At least, you think it was a gust of wind. What else could have done that? On closer inspection, however, you'll see that even the candles sitting on windowsills inside have gone out. For a minute or so, there's only darkness and chaos. Suddenly, the flames begin to burn again, revealing a message in the cobblestone in the center of the square. It almost looks as if it's been burned into the ground: IT IS COMING, followed by a symbol of a creature with a lion's head, goat's body, and serpent's tail. [MOD NOTE: This is a catch-all log for the first few days. For the sake of organization, all arrival threads should be posted under the subheader ARRIVALS and all festival threads should be posted under FESTIVAL. Threads that don't fall under either of those categories can be top-levels. Also, please remember to add your character's tag to the post! Thank you, and have fun!]

Comments

[keystaff]

Eh? Oh, I'm fine! Really! This isn't so bad. At least I'm not wearing my skates and going even faster. I was just distracted, is all.

[But then she pauses, distracted from her reassurances when she feels that hand instinctively go to her head. It's somehow almost comforting, reassuring in the same way that being around Toya, her father or Yukito could be when they would do the same. It makes her almost flushed and sheepish]

Ah, I'm Sakura!

[munechika]

Oh my, those 'skates' sound rather dangerous.

[ a.k.a. he has no idea wtf those are!! ]

But it pleases me to hear that you're all right. A little girl as cute as the flower she's named after should remain as such. [ once he's managed to make sure she's fine, he bows at her. ]

And my name is Mikazuki Munechika. It's a pleasure to meet you, Sakura.

[keystaff]

They're not. They just help me get to school faster! I don't fall over with them anywhere near as much as I used to when I was first learning to use them.

[Which, of course, Toya likely teased her about which only made Sakura all the more determined to prove him wrong and manage to get the hang of using the skates. Maybe that reassurance isn't quite necessary as such, unsure if this Mikazuki even knows what they are, if they have skates back where he was from before this, but all that train of thought is interrupted when he tries to reassure her and introduce himself.]

Ah, Mikazuki-san then? T-thank you.

[munechika]

[ it still sounds dangerous to him even though his curiosity is piqued. especially when it helps you get to places faster. ]

You're most welcome, little one. [ there, have another headpat. ] But you must one day show me what these 'skates' are. They seem very fascinating to an old man like me.

[keystaff]

Well, I could try explain or draw them. They're like...like shoes or boots, but with little wheels?

[Which is the basics at least? She can certainly try acquire more if she sees any in their world hopping travels and missions. To show him and for her own use, of course.]

It might be easier if I found some and show you. But....I don't think you seem that old.

[Then again. Appearances can be deceiving. She knows that well enough.]