etrayamemes | TDM 002

Entry tags:

!tdm

TDM 002

⏵ arrival⏴
Arrival goes as anticipated. Characters awaken in the pristine, new hospital, greeted by Aurora and potentially getting a rundown of what's happening depending on their approach to being dropped somewhere new. The door to their room opens, and new arrivals are left free to explore their new environment.

When the first round of citizens arrived, Aurora and the companion bots had been largely unprepared. This time? They made sure to put up welcome banners, even if the sentiment isn't quite right. There are cupcakes and cookies set out in the hospital's lobbies, and a digital map has been placed just in front of the entrance of the hospital, telling others how to reach the various locations throughout Etraya. Companion bots wander throughout the city, some carrying construction equipment to half-built facilities while others act as nurses, servers, or sales associates throughout the constructed buildings.

⏵ rainy awakenings ⏴

Many concepts are new to Aurora, including rain. She is familiar with how it functions, and its purpose, but rain has never been present on the lands of Etraya. Given how new it is, that may not be all too surprising - but the method of how it’s being introduced is… a little much. Rainfall commences in the early days of April, a persistent downpour that waxes and wanes in intensity but never ceases entirely.

Most nights in Etraya are characterized by a soothing patter of rain against rooftops. Yet, some nights leave the grounds flooded come morning. Rivers begin to swell, the current much too strong to justify trying to go for a swim. These showers also bring a new assortment of plants blooming across the green lands: bright blossoms whose petals spread wide when the yellow sun shines down on them, while numerous cherry blossom trees have grown out of nowhere, flourishing despite the rainfall. Clover carpets the grassy expanses of the islands, weaving a beautiful tapestry of color across the grounds.

⏵ Getting drenched by the rain can trigger a surge, followed by a slump. Initially, individuals will feel giddy, excited, full of energy, and ready to take on the world. However, in the subsequent days, they’ll find themselves feeling depressed, lacking the energy and motivation to move forward. Aurora advises that these effects are only temporary and should fade within the week, but they can be resolved more quickly by embracing a stranger. Attempting to hug anyone they already know well will not produce the same effect.

⏵ With the rain comes a significant increase in the greenery around Etraya that isn’t fake. Most of these plants will resemble ones originally found in the characters' universes.

⏵ A couple of these plants contain magical properties:

The Emberloom is a bright red, fiery flower that only inhabits smaller land masses. Those exposed to its pollen will experience heightened aggression and impulsivity.

Shadowbloom resemble tulips during the day, but during the night the petals open and it looks more like the night sky: dark petals with specs of white throughout them. Growing too close to the apartment building for comfort, those who look at the petals after nightfall will fall into a deep sleep. Worse yet: the dreams they find themselves in are not their own, but are the dreams of other residents. Ones who had not looked into the Shadowbloom, but had drifted off to sleep elsewhere on the planet. The one who looked into the Shadowbloom will find they cannot awaken until the person whose dream they have entered does.

These flowers will continue to bloom through April, after which the companion bots will search for and remove them from the atmosphere bubble.

⏵ If there is a specific, unique plant that those in game (or those accepted during the next round!) would like to add, please comment to the LOCATIONS page! We’ll add mentions of these to the Outskirts section.

Along with the botanical resurgence, numerous new animals appear: glowing fish swim freely through the waters. In the canopy above, new species of birds and critters flit among the branches. Some diligently construct new nests in anticipation of the coming spring, while others seek refuge in the shelter of trees, retreating from the weather.

Not all the creatures are so small, or so peaceful.

⏵ Small critters make themselves comfortable in the forested area around Etraya, staying mostly out of the way. There are the occasional visitors that will let themselves in through windows for a quick visit, or maybe a snack, but they’re mostly harmless.

⏵ Several larger beasts make their way into the city to try and find land that’s more habitable for them. Giraffes navigate gracefully through the areas designated for new arrivals, using their elongated necks to reach for the foliage near the hospital when they aren’t finding new places to make themselves comfortable. An eclectic array of cats, ranging in all sizes and breeds, brazenly saunter into buildings they don’t belong. Hopefully, the lioness lounging in the apartment complex's common area does not prevent residents from reaching their rooms, because she has no intention of yielding.

⏵ The leopard adorned with a rattlesnake tail in the hospital's cafeteria may be difficult to ignore, given his determination to devour everything in sight and attack anyone in his way.

⏵ Cat scratches and bites pose a significant risk of infection. In the event a character is injured, individuals can expect the companion bots to quickly seek them out and approach them with a special antibiotic cream developed specifically for these cats. Refusal of treatment may result in severe symptoms, including high fevers and itching. In extreme cases, individuals may begin to exhibit cat-like characteristics, ranging from physical alterations to changes in mental traits.

⏵ Numerous other creatures of all shapes and sizes will be coming and going through the city. You may play with this as you wish!

While the uproar caused by these guests doesn’t particularly bother Aurora, she does send out a message to everyone wearing an earpiece to request their assistance in capturing the larger animals that her companion bots may not be able to handle themselves. She has converted an island to the East into a temporary holding area until the companion bots can set them up with something a little more permanent.

⏵ network ⏴

Welcome to Etraya! Upon your arrival, Aurora provided an earpiece, a device to make communication with others stuck in the same situation more simple. The device connects to an internal network, which is accessible by everyone else currently residing on planet. Whether you’re looking for guidance, camaraderie, or want to see if there are any familiar faces around, this is the perfect place to do it! Please feel free to post any questions, offer your name, ask for assistance, or maybe complain to the powers that be about how you’ve got better things to be doing than sitting around here completing their missions. Maybe they’re listening. Maybe they’re not.

⏵ NOTES⏴

⏵ During April, Etraya’s getting a little wet! Those who spend too long in the rain may experience a few unfortunate effects.

⏵ The rain brings in new flora, including a couple that may cause characters to experience aggression and impulsivity, or take a stroll through others’ dreams.

⏵ New animals also appear! While many of them are friendly, others… are less so. The cats specifically seem to be a little grumpy. Characters scratched or bitten by these cats may find themselves becoming just as catty.

For any questions relating to the contents of this log, please reply below. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ. The TDM is game canon, meaning everything happening above is occurring within the game properly. Those who apply to join in the April application round may keep their TDM threads as game canon.

⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Arrival]

[It's quite a bit to take in but when you come from a world that lets a card game based off of an ancient Egyptian game mostly control the world, accepting the fact that you've been whisked off to another world in order to save your own seems less farfetched than one would expect.

You can bet Marik still makes a stink over it, insulting and badgering poor Aurora and the staff until he gets the jidst of what's going on, on his own though since they dissipate as soon as he begins throwing his favorite insult. ~~Sorry, Aurora. We know you do your best. He's just a terrible, spoiled brat.~~

The young Egyptian stands in the front entrance, looking up at the map as he shoves a cupcake into his mouth, muttering to himself about "fools" and "that wasn't even the right welcome banner..."]

[Cat Scratch Fever - Diner]

[It's a strange new place away from home with no one he knows in sight. It's both a blessing and a curse in the teen's eyes. On the one hand, he should be repenting for the terrible things he did back in his world (isn't that sort of what you're supposed to be doing now that you're here though?), on the other, this place could be a fresh new start. No one knows who he is, what he's done, or what his purpose in life is so...

Best make the most of it, regardless of if he convinces the powers that be to keep his universe alive or not, right?

Right?

Besides, someone else might arrive better suited for the job. Like little Yugi. Or one of the others from his group of friends.

One has to wonder what Marik was up to the time he left the tomb up until Battle City, considering he hasn't experienced much in life despite living above ground for several years now as he flips through the menu, surprised by the amount of food they have. He points at the picture on the menu itself, sitting at a booth by himself in the Diner, then looks sternly up at the waitress.]

This one. "French Toast." With the sugar and syrup and whatever else goes with it. Make sure it's perrrfect.

[What a weird way to say "perfect." However, feel free to join him if you can tolerate an insufferable child that still thinks far too highly of himself despite having his proverbial ass kicked by the Nameless Pharaoh. Someone needs to knock him down a few pegs again.

One will note that there is a small marking of claws on his right hand. It seems to have been treated, thankfully. Behavior wise, Marik always acts like a cat so the jury is still out on that one.]

[Walk Walk Fashion Baby - Roxx]

[You know who has ridiculous fashion sense? This guy. He's holding up what looks to be a biker vest and a tight skinny jeans.]

... All of this is really free?

[Whether he's speaking to himself or addressing you, it's hard to tell.]

[ooc: feel free to PM this account if you'd like to plot!]

Edited 2024-04-05 01:10 (UTC)

[ Sandalphon has no need of new apparel, but he'd wandered into the shop just the same. He'd been in the middle of picking at the sleeve of some peculiar travesty (his opinion) in hot pink leopard print when he hears the voice just behind him.

Pausing in his inspection of this odd bit of mortal fashion, he spares a glance around. With no one else within earshot, it must be him who was spoken to, surely...?

Whatever the case may be, he turns on his heel to answer the question. ]

I've yet to hear of currency of any kind, so unless they intend us to barter...

[Marik wasn't actually expecting anyone to answer him, he was just thinking outloud. Normally he monologues internally so it catches him off guard and he quickly looks up to see where the other voice came from.]

Huh. Yeah, you're right... I didn't even have to pay for my food earlier...

[Not that he was planning to buuttt...

The tomb keeper narrows his eyes at the clothing like the inanimate object is going to do something to him.]

... How can a world run on no money...?

[ Sandalphon folds his arms as he considers this. ]

Perhaps the role we're to play is compensation enough.

[ Primal beings had no need of currency — they simply fulfill their purpose. Sandalphon knows it isn't how Skydwellers operate, as they exchange currency and goods, and that seems the expectation of present company as well. It may be a uniform experience among mortals, but he couldn't say. ]

Not to mention, I've only seen machines in place of merchants.

[The teen grimaces. Right. That whole saving your universe thing. Guess it would make money rather pointless in this strange place.]

Perhaps...

[Marik glances over to the "checkout" area -- or where one would be. All he sees is a bot.]

You're right. I didn't think much of it at first but I haven't seen any human staff...

[~~You insulted a little robot just trying to do its heckin' best at the diner, Marik.~~]

That has to be intentional. Like, if this is a social experiment, it would be bad to introduce "natives," wouldn't it...?

[ Sandalphon's gaze flicks toward the machine behind the counter. He'd found them to be capable of speech, and cheerily so, yet they could tell him nothing he hadn't already been told. Perhaps if that machinist were here...what was his name?

He recalls Vyrn calling the man Mecha-Nick, but Vyrn calls him Grumplephon, neither of which is a proper name. ]

I couldn't say, but it was the Moondwellers who had such technology. It is not of the Skies.

[ Well, Robomi exists, but that's a unique case. ]

And this place is neither, it seems. Our notions may not apply at all.

[Okay, now Sandalphon's just lost him. Marik raises an eyebrow.]

Moondwellers...?

[He assumes "Skies" just means the realm of the Gods. Not a big deal there. He tucks the clothes he's picked out under his one arm.]

This place feels like a... sterile version of some of the technology I've seen in my world. Not that I've had much exposure to it myself...

The people from the moon, yes.

[ Where did he lose him? Sandalphon doesn't know, but there are surely more pressing matters to focus on, like the nature of this realm. ]

Their technology is more like this than what I'm familiar with, as I understand it.

[ He happens to have invented what passes for a mechanical fan in the Sky Realm, so all of this is distinctly alien to him. ]

I gathered that part... People don't live on the moon in my universe.

[Marik decides to continue with his clothes shopping as the two converse. He's good enough at multitasking.]

So are you of the Moon as well or the Sky?

[Sandalphon doesn't look like what he'd expect a God to look like but they do enjoy changing their mortal forms... and what better candidate to show why a universe should exist than one who helped create it, right?]

[ The answer could well be a little technical, but Sandalphon can safely say: ]

I am no Moondweller. There may come a time when I must protect the Skies from them, as is my purpose.

[ This may not help their understanding at all, but protecting his world is his job. Or rather, he inherited it. It's a bit of a long story. ]

Universes are another matter entirely.

Hm.

[Marik would sympathize with him on that one, considering he was born into a family of tomb keepers, sworn to guard the tomb of the Forgotten Pharaoh... Not by choice. (In his eyes.)

But yes, his answer doesn't help at all so the teen will just drop it for the time being.]

I wasn't even aware there was other universes before this place.

[Different realms, that's another story.

He holds up a crop top hoodie similar to the one he has one with a small smile.]

[ He's aware of other possible realities as a concept, but that doesn't quite include other universes entirely. Not just different potential outcomes or events, but something that feels so much more vast and encompassing. ]

It makes my world feel small by comparison.

[ The words are strange to his own ears, yet in the face of all this, how can he deny it? ]

I wonder about their selection process, given their options must be vast.

It does.

[Marik chooses not to think too much about it at the moment. When he's alone and can monologue with himself, he will. But not right now.]

I was wondering about that too. I'm not... anyone of importance in my world.

[He's straining to get that sentence out. Gritted teeth, a melancholy expression, a forced polite tone.]

... You'd think they'd pick extraordinary people to show why a world is worth saving.

Although my purpose is to protect my world, something like this—

[ He lifts a hand, waving it at their surroundings, as though any indication is needed. ]

I can think of someone far more suited to this.

[ Shouldn't it be the Singularity, and not him? The one who had done impossible things. The one who had somehow forgiven his transgressions and worked alongside him to end one of a parade of threats to their world.

Sandalphon may be Supreme Primarch, but he isn't the first person he'd choose in a matter of worthiness. ]

Hn.

[Marik bites the inside of his lip as he thinks for a moment.]

Maybe that's why we were brought here then? Because we aren't good picks?

[ It's an interesting notion. He cups a hand to his chin as he considers the possibility and its implications. ]

...Stacking the odds against our realms by not choosing their ideal champions?

[ He supposes there is some element of cruel challenge to that. ]

That may make a certain sense.

[ Not that he likes it, but it could explain the choice of candidates, at least in his case. ]

[That's what he'd do if he were in charge so it makes sense that's probably what's happening to them.

Not that he'll say that outloud.]

Yeah. That would be the easy way. To truly see if a world is worth keeping, they probably want to see all aspects of it, rather than just the positive ones.

[ It's strange to ponder for someone like Sandalphon. He'd struggled so long with a lack of purpose, with yearning to be useful, and now that he finally is...

He's whisked off to prove why the world he's to protect is itself worthy to exist. ]

It's almost humorous.

[ Almost. ]

The not-so-shining examples, out to save the day.

[How curious that the two are similar in that regard. Marik not feeling being a tomb keeper was important but wanting to be something more, that he was owed it. Now with all of that out of the way, he's not sure what to do with himself.]

A cruel irony for sure.

[He sighs and grabs the atrocious pink leopard print shirt Sandalphon was looking at before to inspect himself. ~~Marik, no.~~]

How do they expect us to prove ourselves if we can't get jobs or make money? What are we supposed to do?

Edited 2024-04-06 00:06 (UTC)

[ His concern is plastered across his face the instant Marik picks up the garment. Don't do that to yourself— ]

[ Should he...should he intervene, or... No, he shouldn't be too hasty. Perhaps the closer inspection means nothing. He can wait. Should wait... Right? ]

I would expect a fitting task to be set before us in due time. Perhaps through battle.

[ It would make enough sense to him, being that ultimately his kind are living weapons of a particular sort. ]

They may be granting us time to "settle in" first.

[Thankfully Marik puts the garment back. Pink isn't his color. Purple, however...

The teen grimaces at the mention of battle.]

I would hope not. Not all of us are cut out for physical tasks like that.

[Hm. He does raise a good point though.]

... That would make sense. No point in throwing us into the thick of things right off the bat... I hope.

That is a concern. [ His strength with six wings was compared with a god's. Now, he has twelve. Not a one visible at the moment, but he knows they're there. Surely he isn't intended to fight mortals who have no proper means of combating him, so then... ] The manner of contest may not involve brute force.

[ A battle of a different sort, then. He can't begin to imagine what it would be like, but it would surely take a form that allows them comparable opportunities to succeed. ]

After we've acclimated, I'd expect further instruction then. At least, all of this appears purposeful.

That would be preferred. I'm not a very hands-on person.

[While he may not grab the leopard print shirt, he does grab yet another sleeveless top.]

You think we're the first group here? Or have you bumped into anyone who's been here longer...?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Marik Ishtar | Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters

Roxx

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1/2

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arrival