epidemiology | OPEN ★ ARRIVAL LOG

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OPEN ★ ARRIVAL LOG

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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Pearl watches how just the mere gaze Gilgamesh gives them sends them off. Suddenly she felt so much smaller beside the man, folding her hands in front of herself as she looks at their surroundings.

Paper and litter was strewn about the ground, and it took a lot of will for Pearl to not start cleaning it up again. She tried before, it was a fruitless effort.]

Yes, there's plenty of people around. Pick and choose as you'd like!

[Pick and choose, eh? Gilgamesh chuckles, just shakes his head and puffs up with that endless fountain of pride. Boldly, he takes up one of Pearl's hands and starts to march... right into the center of it all, where it's noisiest, and arguably most dangerous.

But Gilgamesh doesn't appear the least bit concerned. To the contrary, he takes a deep breath and then shouts at the top of his lungs:]

ATTENTION, COMMONERS! YOUR KING ADDRESSES YOU! COME TO ME AT ONCE AND SPEAK YOUR MINDS, FOR I HAVE THIRST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND NEED OF YOUR ASSISTANCE! DO NOT DELAY, HURRY TO MY SIDE NOW!

[...and he will keep shouting until he gets the attention he seeks. With you trapped in the middle with him, Pearl. How dignified.]

Gilgamesh--!!

[WHAT.

Pearl almost squawks as her hand is snatched up and she's dragged into the middle of it all. She isn't used to being in the indirect lime light. In fact, she was usually behind, and out of sight of anyone who was in the lime light. And yet, here she was, front and center.]

Is this really necessary?!

[Well, he's certainly attracted some degree of attention. The whole of the crowd has stopped, mostly to stare at him, and he looks pleased with this reaction. Ignoring Pearl's pleas, he lifts his other hand up and, piece by glowing piece, begins lifting all that nasty trash on the ground up.

With a snap of his fingers, it all turns to dust and vanishes. All of Pearl's futile work, completed in a wave of his hand. There are some mutterings of witchcraft among the crowd but there's also a round of impressed applause, and Gilgamesh soaks it up like he expected it all along.

Because he did. And now he's winking at Pearl and overflowing with even more confidence than before.]

Look, look! We're beautified the town! They'll surely speak with us now!

No I didn't--!! He--!!

[Goddammit Gilgamesh. The Gem glares up at the man and tries to pull her hand away. She points with her other hand at him and addresses the crowd.]

That was him! He's the one who wishes to speak with one of you!

[Alas, Pearl, the onlookers are eagerly up in your business, as well. Thankfully, Gilgamesh does appear to be getting somewhere with a group of younger ladies...]

Ah, what gorgeous attire! Where did you come upon it? ♥

[...or maybe he's just flirting with them in hopes of scoring a date. Strangely, however, the crowd does appear calmer, as if some magic spell has been cast upon them. And perhaps it has been. The force of Gilgamesh's Charisma was never to be underestimated.

He'll stop embarrassing himself shortly. Maybe. Probably.]

[Pearl stares after him, almost gawking as he hits it up with the group of young ladies. Absentmindedly, she smooths out the creases of her top, running her hand along the fabric before she walks up beside him, cheeks plump with a tight frown.]

I thought you were looking for vital information. Not information on this city's fashion.

[Gilgamesh and his gaggle of doe-eyed girls all turn in unison, astounded.]

Nonsense! This is gaining valuable information.

[Speaking of fashion... Gilgamesh stands back and gives her a look that reads giiiirl, what died and wore itself all over you?]

Perhaps you could do with a lesson or two, though. You do look a bit plain for the literal manifestation of treasure.

[She's taken aback by his comment and. All these eyes on her, what. Pearl shakes her head and clutches her hands into loose fists at her sides. But soon she rests a hand over her chest.]

I worked very hard on this attire! I spent two weeks working on it! It's perfect for my battle techniques, and it's practical!

Battle techniques...?

[Easy come, easy go, so volatile are the king's affections; he shoos the women away and completely forgets what he set out to do in favor of pursuing this latest curiosity. Mainly because it runs so contrary to his expectations of the Gem, and he wants to confirm something for himself.]

Why didn't you bring this up before? [Because you never asked, Gilgamesh.] If they're so impressive, you do me a discourtesy not to put them on full display! Let's see it! Show me the power of a true Crystal Gem!

[The crowd fans out a little. Some shake their heads; some gossip. But all are enraptured by Gilgamesh's invisible pull, and so by Pearl in turn.]

[Pearl's eyes are as wide as dinner plates as the crowd moves around them. What? Now? Of all places?!]

No no no! You said you were here to get information! I'm not going to be showing my battle skills in the middle of a crowd of innocent bystandards!

[While they aren't natives she's used to, she refuses for innocent people to get hurt because of her. The Gem crosses her arms and glares at Gilgamesh with her pale blue eyes.]

I never said they were impressive! They're just battle techniques. Like anyone else has.

Are you saying you're incapable of controlling yourself?

[Ooh. Gauntlet thrown.]

[Excuse u.]

Gilgamesh, I'm not fighting you. You don't even have a weapon on you. It wouldn't be fair anyways.

[She turns to the crowd with a nervous laugh.] Sorry everyone! There's nothing to see here! You may continue with your daily lives!

[No weapons? No weapons?! Was she trying to humiliate him? Clever thing...]

I am the King of Heroes. My weapons...

[Gilgamesh points a finger high in the air. Suddenly, darkness abates. The glow of a thousand portals descends upon the area, and from them point a thousand weapons, swords and bows and axes and spears. It is an impressive sight. It is a terrifying sight.]

...are everything in creation!!

[So terrifying, in fact, that it breaks the spell and sends the townsfolk running for cover. That's like continuing on with their daily lives, right?]

[Pearl's gaze is directed above and suddenly she feels so much smaller. And feels as though her own sword collection at home pales in comparison to this. He said he was a king but... this is different.

Keeping her footing firm, she lets her gem glow gently, and protuding from her gem is a handle. She reaches up and pulls out an intricate long spear. She purses her lips, used to the sound of fleeing crowds around them.]

I-Impressive...

[She tries to keep herself composed, despite imagining all these weapons descending upon her.]

[They hover menacingly, but Gilgamesh betrays no violent intent. He just laughs, either completely oblivious to the chaos he's caused or entirely unsympathetic. The portals all coalesce into one, until Gilgamesh pulls out a spear of his own.

A spear that looks almost suspiciously like Pearl's. Though hers remains unique; he had every weapon in human creation, but those of aliens were beyond him. It's part of the reason he admires her—she is truly special, something he hasn't collected.

Yet.]

Even a Gem can get its blood going, eh? That's good to see of you, Pearl. I'm impressed.

[Gilgamesh lowers himself into a crouch and beckons to Pearl.]

Let's play. We worked so hard, it's only right we claim a break for ourselves.

This isn't playing!

[Pearl tries to readon with him, but keeps herself in a defensive stance. Her hands grip onto her spear tightly, lips pursing into a thin line.]

We're here on a mission! We don't have time for this nonsense.

Isn't it, though?

[Gilgamesh does not appear deterred by such petty things as logic and reason. He twirls his spear and inches forward, laughing like a child. Or maybe not even like one. Maybe Pearl has just been putting up with an overgrown brat all along.]

Oh, don't be so stiff. Consider it practice for our future missions, hm? I'm doing you a favor!

[He's also lunging. On guard, Pearl!]

[Having fought against herself, literally, she's experienced with movements of the spear. Then again, her holograms reflected her own movements. It was different with an actually opponent.

She sees that point of the spear lunging out towards her and manages to contort her body. The Gem spins and cranes her spine to the side while twirling her own spear. She bends down low, under Gilgamesh's spear and aims to knock his feet out from under him, with a swift swing of the 'blunt' end of her spear.]

We don't even know what these future missions are! They're political at most.

Ah—

[She's fast. Faster than he expects, and he gets tripped up as a result, backpedaling quickly to try and regain his footing. For all those weapons he's got, he's hardly skilled wielding any of them, and it shows. A master of close-handed combat Gilgamesh was certainly not.

Still, he recovers with admirable poise and goes for another stab, this one aimed at Pearl's hip.]

Don't talk like that! You'll take all the fun out of it. Who knows what's in store?!

[Oh he's fast this time around, and she was not expecting him to recover so quickly. She winces as the spear nicks her hip, slicking through her clothing. She stumbles back, holding her hip for a moment before she glares daggers at him. A small cut is apparent on her hip.]

All that's in store, is a way for me and-- [No, don't get him involved in this.] the rest of us to get home!

[Surprisingly, Gilgamesh stops.]

Hey, you...

[...you weren't supposed to get hit. You're not supposed to be hurt. Gems couldn't bleed, could they? And treasure was meant to remain pure and beautiful and untouched. Seeing that cut brings him back down from the beginnings of a frenzy, and while he doesn't look sorry, he does look a little sheepish.

Gilgamesh stows his spear again and asks, quietly:]

Why did you not retaliate? You had the advantage.

[Pearl blinks at his sudden change in demeanor and lowers her spear slightly. Confused, she furrows her brow.]

I had the advantage? Those weapons you had before hand say differently. [She laughs lightly.]

I'm not going to hurt someone I just met. [While she was proficient in the sword and spear, she was never made for fighting in the first place. Besides, the Crystal Gems would frown upon it. She would frown upon it.]

I would not pit treasure against treasure! What sort of unseemly man do you take me for?!

[Never mind the fact he'd already drawn a weapon. But if anyone thought Pearl could kick up a flustered storm... oh, boy. Here comes Hurricane Gilgamesh, and he's embarrassingly red in the face.]

And don't assume such a pitiful attitude! When facing the King of Heroes, you should bring nothing short of your best! It does me great insult otherwise!

[He folds his arms and huffs, adding under his breath:]

It does no good to tarnish beauty. I was only playing.

[Pearl watches him curiously, letting her spear disappear in a flurry of sparkles. Was he... blushing? Flustered? After how he carried himself thus far. So regal. And now this? Pearl bites back a giggle, covering her hand over her mouth.]

Perhaps some other time we can do a real sparing match, without so many people around. [With her spear, and it's wide close range, she'd be worried about harming someone if they were to expand their 'battle field'.] I apologize for insulting you.

[She bows slightly before she hears his last comment. Or, thought she did.]

What's that?

OPEN ★ ARRIVAL LOG

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