EVENT ★ WELCOME TO TERRA FELIS

[futurologists]

WELCOME TO TERRA FELIS Characters leave Woodhurst suddenly and without notice, but once they come out the other side of the rift, they aren't in Oska. Instead, they'll find themselves in the middle of a springtime meadow. Flowers are in bloom, the bright blue sky is above, and birds chirp overhead. And then there are the cats. From all sides of the meadow come housecats of all shapes and sizes, indistinguishable from mundane felines in every way until one of them speaks: "You're the third team today," it says in the calm, clear voice of a man. "Come along." CENTRUM COLONIAM Centrum Coloniam is the primary city of Terra Felis and is where the government, a constitutional monarchy, is located. Situated high above the ground, the city is accessible via teleportation pads located at guarded entrances all around its base; the teleportation pads to return to the ground are not guarded at all, and anyone may travel freely whenever they wish. Terra Felis operates on magitek, a complex combination of magic and technology that recruits should be familiar with: it's the same technology that runs Oska and the jewelcomms. Centrum Coloniam is lit by glowing, floating orbs that turn on automatically in the darkness, and its machinery seems to run itself, with only a few technicians scurrying about every now and then. The buildings all have tall, vaulted ceilings, as the cats prefer to walk along raised platforms rather than the floor, though furniture and utensils might give larger species (that's you) some difficulty. However, the cats receive enough visitors where most buildings (except private residences) have been situated with human-sized doorways, though if you're very tall, you may have to stoop a bit. All in all, characters ought to be relatively comfortable here if they have a good sense of humor -- though dogs or other canine companions will be met with suspicion if not outright hostility. Even enlightened sapient felines are not without their prejudices. The city of Centrum Coloniam is shaped like a circle, with the government in the center and four districts located to the north, east, south, and west. Radiating out from the city are four long spokes of parkland, separating each district. AREAS OF NOTE: ROYAL SQUARE. Where the Queen's opulent palace is located. She is much too busy to see visitors right now, but the Prime Minister, a plump persian, will greet anyone in her stead and answer any questions. Surrounding the palace in a circle are the parliamentary buildings and other governmental structures. ACADEMY SQUARE. To the north of the Royal Square is Academy Square, Terra Felis's university district and home to the Royal University. The cats focus mainly on scientific, mathematical, and magical pursuits, though there are smaller colleges for history and law. This is also where the library is located, though it is all nonfiction (and written in Latin), as the cats don't seem to have much use for entertainment. Also located within the Academy Square is the Royal Magitekkery, where the magitek specialists are hard at work developing new spells and technology. This is where the interdimensional rift machines are located, and where scientists and wizards are monitoring for news from Oska. If characters would like to ask more about magitek or inquire about Oska, they may speak to the Royal Scientist, a rather snobby sphynx. GROOMING DISTRICT. Home to many spas, salons, and other businesses focusing on individual pampering, the Grooming District is located to the east of the Royal Square and is where the majority of the locals are employed if they are not involved in politics or magitek. Though their primary clientele are, naturally, feline, they are largely excited to work on aliens and will do their best to provide whatever services they can. Of particular note are the Terra Felis spas, where soothing mud baths and shi-miatsu massage are very popular with their regular alien visitors. They also have natural hot springs available, though you'll have to wait for a Turkish Van to assist you, as all other spa attendants refuse to risk getting wet. RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT. Unless you are going to be roughing it down on the ground, your lodgings will be here at a hotel especially outfitted for human-sized visitors. The proprietress, a friendly tabby, will give you directions if you need them. Hotel rooms are outfitted with private bathrooms, a table and chairs, a vanity, and a television -- though the programming is primarily educational and news, except for the channel that plays nothing but endless videos of birds and fish, and the "alien station" which plays what appears to be soap operas starring bloblike creatures. The beds are probably the most unusual thing here for visitors -- although they're big enough for humanoids, they're just gigantic, fluffy cat beds. The houses here are not built for alien visitors larger than a cat, so if you make a friend, you'll have to visit them elsewhere. This district is also home to a number of shops and restaurants, though you might have trouble finding something to eat at the latter unless you live on a purely carnivorous diet. If you would like a little more variation in your meal, you will be offered a tray of wheatgrass; the kitchen at the hotel is staffed with cooks more accustomed to a human diet, so you might have better luck there. As cats are allergic to alcohol, there is no liquor in Terra Felis, but locals will offer you catnip on the sly if you mention you want something to help you loosen up. MUSEUM CAMPUS. The pride of Centrum Coloniam, the Museum Campus is located to the west of the Royal Square and home to museums covering everything from history to astronomy. (There is no art museum. If you were interested in seeing what cats consider art, the answer is nothing.) There is also a rather large and rather popular aquarium, as well as a zoo which features both native animals and animals from all across the galaxy. The zoo is home to an extremely complex breeding program, and the Royal Zookeeper, a scatterbrained black longhaired cat, is happy to explain their methods. Outside the city, the ground is home to meadows and forests, plus smaller villages for more rural cats. Characters are welcome to spend their time exploring the wilds if the city life isn't for them, where they may run into animals that one may expect to find in medieval Europe (deer, bears, wolves, etc). Apart from the cats, there is no other sapient species on the planet. OOC NOTES Welcome to Terra Felis! Contact with ALASTAIR NPCs remains mysteriously closed, and the native cat population has no idea what's going on with Oska either. Please use this post to plot amongst yourselves! The two other ALASTAIR teams in Terra Felis are Team Unicorn, an elite team of six (five humanoids and one talking kangaroo), and Team Ambrosia, a 20-recruit magic-focused team that consists of elves, humans, and satyrs. Unicorn had just begun their mission when they were suddenly rifted to Terra Felis, and Ambrosia was in the middle of what was apparently a very epic battle. Questions about Terra Felis can be directed here. You may also use this comment to ask (brief!) handwaved questions with cat NPCs. Questions about the game in general should be directed to the FAQ. You may also submit mission ideas or player plots at any time.

Comments

[paintjobs]

Are you sure? You're observant, [ evidently ] but we don't all make it so obvious.

[ And, to be fair, he's still not sure how she so quickly detected that something was off about his hologram self — but he's perfectly aware that it doesn't look quite human, what with the eyes that he just couldn't give up. ]

[scarletcast]

[ Ordinarily she'd have some witticism about how her observation serves her well, but this is a whole new ball game. This is not the Avengers, who are more or less familiar with what she can do. ]

[ She doesn't want to settle, but there is... value in knowing certain things about the people around. ]

I can move things with my mind. I could tell you had no physical body. If that changes, then you will fool me.

[ Except if he gets himself a neato organic body she'll have the upper hand. ]

[paintjobs]

[ That gives him a pause. He's heard about that kind of thing in human movies, humans being able to move things around without touching them — he hadn't figured any of that was actually real. And it somehow relates to sensing bodies? Interesting.

He considers it a for a few seconds, then: ] Let's test that. Shall we see if you can spot me? My actual self, of course. Outside.

[ She's shared something about herself, he may as well reward it with a little more about him. And any Cybertronians she may encounter, for that matter. ]

[scarletcast]

[ She pauses, cants her head. She'd been limiting her range to inside the building. Now it pans out, searching their surroundings. Cats, carts, hold on — ]

I think so.

[ Her eyes widen with surprise as she finds the machine. It's not just big, it's huge. ]

That's you?

[paintjobs]

[ He's a car at the moment (flashy and red, naturally), folded down and parked neatly outside the building. He doesn't exactly fit in with any of the machines of this world, but at least figures one might not figure the car for a living machine. A few cats have happened upon him and decided his hood his a warm place to sit, and he hasn't bothered to dislodge them. Cats are careful and respectful, which he in turn can appreciate. Most of his attention out there is turned inward, directing and seeing via avatar.

Which, speaking of, cocks a brow at Wanda. ]

That depends. Which that do you mean?

[ He's expecting a wrong answer, something located within the room, and prepared to deliver a smug correction. ]

[scarletcast]

[ She explores, feeling the engine, the otherness of it. Wanda can't hide her wonder as she maps the whole object. She has never felt anything like this. ]

The car. It's... elegant.

[ It suits him. ]

[paintjobs]

[ The avatar pauses for a moment, flickering just slightly. It's the most genuine surprise he can express with it, really. Being startled into forgetting to control it for a few instants translates much more honestly than any surprised look he could generate across its face.

When it comes back to life again, he looks a little wary. ]

You're right. [ That he's elegant, certainly, but more importantly that he's the car. He seems to have underestimated this human. ] And what does this little talent have to do with moving things with your mind?

[scarletcast]

[ Wanda shrugs, one-shouldered. The question has an angle — she would too if someone had just done this in front of her. ]

I know what's around me. I'm not sure how it works, only that this is part of how I do it.

[paintjobs]

[ He's quiet for a few seconds, judging. Specifically, trying to determine if this is a threat to him in any way. Ultimately, he figures he doesn't yet have enough information about ... whatever it is she can do. It's clearly more than just what she'd presented it as. ]

Useful. [ With a little curve of a smile: ] It looks like ALASTAIR got lucky with you, you might just prove an asset to this team.

[scarletcast]

[ Clearly. She won't say more until asked, however. ]

Somehow, I think that's a compliment.

[ She smiles, wry. ]

[paintjobs]

I'm sure it is to someone. [ For his part, he mostly just meant it as an observation. ] But I'm sure you'll find some use in that in turn. This group appreciates their teamwork.

[ They might not be A+ teamwork students, but they're miles above the kind of catty backstabbing teammates he's used to. ]

[scarletcast]

[ She's not sure she's much of a team player. With Pietro, everything was easy. They never needed to talk when she could be inside his head. With the Avengers, she stumbles and falls constantly, unable to adjust to the shift in her perception. ]

[ She nods in lieu of thank you for the tip. ]

What missions have you been on?

[paintjobs]

Just two so far, personally. [ But nonetheless, he ticks them off as he goes: ] Perdition's Rest, a charming little planet strangely reminiscent of the American Wild West — and Woodhurst, a miserable little pile of infected and infectious humans trying to kill each other.

[ He liked one of those missions a lot more than the other one. ]

[scarletcast]

Exciting.

[ no ]

Do you fight, or play some other role?

[paintjobs]

[ it was the worst wanda, the worst. But this is a nicer topic, and he might even brighten a little. ]

I'm a doctor. [ And he can fight, but frankly, anything to get out of dangerous work. ] Of inorganics, of course. If you find any, send them my way.

[scarletcast]

I will remember.

[ She'll know an inorganic; she won't be able to read them. ]

If there is anyone from your world, should I speak of you?

[paintjobs]

[ The question catches him a little off guard -- mainly that she would think to ask it. That's surprisingly considerate.

After a brief moment of thought: ] No. That would be... complicated. [ And since she'd offered he may as well return the favor. ] And what about you? Assuming I can differentiate all the various human worlds for yours, of course.

[scarletcast]

[ And it's a convenient way of keeping track of his standing amongst those who know him. Wanda can't read his mind or emotions, but there are other ways. She was perceptive and distrustful well before the procedure. ]

You are welcome to, though I doubt many will ask.

[ She'd find any member of the Avengers quickly enough, she thinks. ]

[paintjobs]

Oh, not popular? [ He asks it with a trace of amusement, but it's more a dig for information, and a press to see how much she'll give up. ]

[scarletcast]

[ Good try. Wanda shakes her head. ]

No, I am not very well-known, compared to my teammates.

[ That and she was in hiding until recently. ]

[paintjobs]

[ Well, she's on a team of some kind! That's something. Then again, who on Audentes isn't. Still, it's information tucked away. ]

Well, if I do run across any of your fans, I'll be sure to let them know you're here. Just Wanda, or did you come with any other names to add on? [ Humans usually have at least two names, he's not new here, ok. ]

[scarletcast]

I am also called the Scarlet Witch.

[ Nice ring to it, eh? ]

[paintjobs]

[ Oh, that is pretty good. Nice to know she's made the color scheme hers, too. He can appreciate that. ]

Catchy. I'll leave you to it, then, [ he can't resist ] Scarlet Witch.

[ And with a nod meant to serve as a goodbye, he makes to show himself off in some other direction, to find more things in here to stare at. ]