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]

[At the confirmation that the other was all right, Sakura seems to visibly relax a lot more. Even moreso when the other notes her necklace and seems aware of her situation. Probably the same, this girl also pulled from home to help. Then again, she is meeting a lot of them since her arrival. And some are more obvious in not being from the worlds they end up in.]

That's good. But ah--yes. I was brought here to help. I guess you were too. Um, I'm Sakura!

[rosing]

[ Sakura is a nice name. The image of spring, pink flowers blossoming on trees. A picnic mat laid on on the floor, delicious food and people she loved around her. ]

Anna. [ She tilts her head to the side for a moment, curious. ] You're worried.

[ It's not a question, she says it like she's certain of it. ]

[keystaff]

Anna-san then!

[But the smile at her lips fades when the other points out her worry, seeing through the facade. Sakura really is an open book, people rarely not able to tell what she is feeling from her expression, let alone her usual vibrancy and enthusiasm and cheer being near unmatched.]

It's just....back home. I was sort of in the middle of something and now I'm worried about everyone. But....but I just have to do my best to help here, and then I'll get back and figure it out! I'm sure.

1/2

[rosing]

[ An, Anna-san... She's never been called -san before?? A strange door from a new world has been opened...

Sakura's feelings are the same as hers--she has her clansmen back home, and she wants to be there, in the swirling currents before a storm. ]

[rosing]

I'll help too. [ She smiles up at Sakura. ] So that everyone can go back to their own homes.

[keystaff]

Yes! Exactly! Or, at least, everyone that wants to? I don't see why ALASTAIR wouldn't accept those who might prefer to keep helping.

[Either way. If even one person wanted to get back, that's all it really takes for Sakura to be determined in achieving the means to get home. For them and for herself. That is all there really is to it. Putting one's mind to something. Being optimistic on the outcome.]

[rosing]

[ She hasn't given thought to it, that some people might prefer staying on instead of going home. Maybe it's because most people's wills of wanting to go back is too strong, she can't feel the other side. ]

Are you searching for something? [ Since she wasn't paying attention... ]

[keystaff]

Not...specifically. I guess I'm just trying to figure out this place in general. I'm not sure where anything is, exactly.

[Things like where to stay, where to get food or where a library or the like might be. All of that. And that's not going into how unsure she is regarding school in all of this either for that matter. Sakura rubs a hand at the back of her head, sheepish almost.]

I guess I was just a little...distracted. With coming here, that announcement and all.

[rosing]

[ She listens without a change in expression. ]

I can show you where you want to go.

[keystaff]

Oh, you can? I hadn't really explored much of this place myself just yet. But we can together!

[Two is always better than going it alone. Especially in a new place while they adjust and figure where everything is. Together, they could figure this out between them, surely. Sakura gives an enthusiastic nod of agreement, instinctively reaching for Anna's hand.]

Which way first?

[rosing]

[ Sakura's hand reaches for hers and Anna doesn't reject it. With her free hand she points left and right, ]

The inns are this way and the market is over there.

[ Pulling her hand back, she points in a completely separate direction, ] That way is dangerous.

[ ...She felt it. ]

[keystaff]

This way? Oh, okay!

[She gives a nod, following the pointing with Anna's free hand, noting which direction for each. It's only when she mentions danger that Sakura tenses a little, turning her head to face that direction.]

Dangerous? How.....?

[rosing]

[ Sakura tensing up is obvious. Does she want to explain? ]

There are thieves there. [ ...And it's darker. ] Here is safer.

[keystaff]

Oh. I'm not sure I really have much if anything on me to steal. But....you're right. We should be careful.

[It's enough to have her on guard at least. Cautious and wary, aware of the situation. In some way she is thankful for that much, as she follows with Anna. Away from the area where such pickpockets and muggers seem to frequent.]

[rosing]

[ People have stolen her marbles!! (Thinking it was magic, but.)

Anna walks quietly by Sakura's side, making the flames of each lantern they pass brighten (and redden) slightly before and after, illuminating their paths. To the casual observer, it probably looks like flickering flames because there can't be anyone who can manipulate flames, right. The silence is comfortable to her as she walks, but there are definitely people looking at them, going "what weird clothes" and "how cute!"... ]

[keystaff]

[Sakura, if she does notice the effects of the flames brightening specifically for them, doesn't outright say anything. After all, she can usually sense some sort of magic in others. And she herself has control of the Firey card. Something like this would seem rather simple and tame magic, really.

But the comments on the clothing do have her self-conscious again. Tomoyo's battle outfits are hardly discreet, to say the least.....]

[rosing]

I like it.

[ Not even deigning to react to the voices, that's all Anna says as they walk on, hand in hand. ]

[keystaff]

You do? It is a little....it kind of does stand out. I guess I should figure more clothes while we are here.

[Priorities. Food. Clothing. Accommodation. Even for as independent as Sakura could be, she still might need some assistance with this stuff. Maybe new clothes would help them to blend in a bit more.]

[rosing]

[ Standing out isn't bad though, thinks the twelve year old dressed in gothic lolita.

But there isn't Izumo or Rikio here to help do the laundry, huh. And there probably aren't washing machines here, huh? ]

...I have to buy more clothes too. [ She says this after wondering how to do laundry. ] We can go look together?

[keystaff]

Oh, okay! It'll be easier if we look together! I'm sure if we both keep an eye out we'll find at least one shop we can find some new clothes.

[Clothing that will help them blend in more. That won't be one of Tomoyo's battle costumes. Besides, like Anna figures, they will need to do laundry at some point, so having more than just the outfit they arrived in initially is a decent start to that.

She follows along, trying to keep an eye out before pointing out one of the stalls and shops.]

There?

[rosing]

[ She turns to sees red clothes in the distance, and immediately nods. ]

Let's go.

[keystaff]

[There's a chance they might find something they like, anyway. Worth a try. If not, they can always keep going to others. Still, they can at least try find some new clothes here. Sakura enters and looks around, but sticks close to Anna, offering some advice if asked or asking her opinion on some choices before ending up with some options to try on.]

[rosing]

[ Sakura will find Anna's taste going to cute clothes, mostly in shades of red, and though she recommends the same for Sakura, Anna never gives clothes of other colours any second glances.

In the end, with two dresses in hand, Anna waits for Sakura to try out all her options. ]

[keystaff]

[Sakura doesn't have any particular issues with red, she just doesn't stick so rigidly to the one colour herself, even if she does appreciate some suggestions to assist her in choosing.

She only has two of three outfits, nothing as extensive as all the clothes Tomoyo has made for her or her wardrobe back home, but enough that she could get by with it and at least have a change of clothing when doing the laundry. All rather cute styles, but nothing that stands out overly much.]

I think this all fits okay at least.

[rosing]

It's all very cute.

[ She says this smiling, leading Sakura towards the cashier to pay for their clothes. It's a good thing they got money, right? ]