TDM 002

[etrayamods]

⏵ 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⏴

Comments

[upbyone]

[ Her hand lingers on his elbow for a moment longer before she lets go. ]

Good.

[ With that settled, she walks farther into the apartment building, taking it in. ]

Which floor do you want look on?

[ She has no real preference. Alex probably has a better idea of the building's layout than she does. ]

[seenitall]

The second floor would make it annoying for someone to try to break in from outside, but we'd still be able to escape through the window okay.

[upbyone]

[ She watches him for a second, contemplative. He was always training me to be an asset.

Kyra shrugs nonchalantly and a trace of a smile crosses her face. ]

Bet we'll have better options than our usual places.

[ Granted the 'usual places' so far have been hostels and the cheapest accommodations Kyra can find. ]

[seenitall]

And our own rooms.

[Going on holiday the way she, Tom, and he have didn't leave much room for personal space. ]

[upbyone]

And comfortable beds, if we're lucky.

[ Calling some of the things they've slept on 'beds' or 'mattresses' or 'suitable for sleeping on' would be a stretch. ]

[seenitall]

Mine's been okay. So far.

[They're probably all furnished with about the same kind of mattresses, right?]

[upbyone]

[ She finds the entrance to the nearest stairwell-- something interior and sheltered, fortunately. ]

You've had a chance to sleep?

[ She literally bolted out of the hospital and just didn't stop. ]

[seenitall]

Not much.

[Seeing as how he doesn't sleep too easily. But that's not the mattress's fault.]

[upbyone]

Some is better than none.

[ Neither of them have slept really well in a long time, so it's sort of become a motto of hers.

Kyra pushes open the door at the top of the staircase. The apartment complex seems unnervingly normal. Her eyes roam around the room, looking for anything especially out-of-place. ]

[seenitall]

Yeah.

[He's already seen what the place looks like, for the most part, so there's nothing new here.]

If the flat's unlocked and has keys left out, it's unclaimed.

[upbyone]

[ Kyra immediately skips the first few doors-- living by the stairwell is loud. There's no way for her to tell the layout of the apartment before opening the door, so she just picks one at random. The door opens-- a good sign-- and she steps in. ]

Not bad.

[seenitall]

[They really are decent flats. Not overly spacious, but well-furnished and containing about all you'd think you need. There's even dishes in the cupboards.]

Do we want two bedroom, two bath?

[upbyone]

[ She turns to him with a small smile. ]

Two bedrooms and two bathrooms? I feel spoiled.

[ She moves around the kitchen, fingertips brushing the countertops. ]

[seenitall]

If we can find it, I think we can afford it.

[At least being kidnapped means the accommodations are free.]

[upbyone]

Definitely an upgrade from our last prison.

[ She makes her way to the main area and-- ]

It even has a balcony.

[seenitall]

[Alex perks up and opens the sliding door to check out said balcony. It's small, just big enough for a couple chairs and a little table. Nice place to have breakfast and look out over the weird world they've been brought to. And after peering over the edge for a moment, he's pretty sure his earlier guess about being able to potentially escape is accurate.

For a second, he considers testing it in practice, but 1) it is still raining and 2) he sort of did just promise her that he'd try to stay out of the rain.]

I like it.

[upbyone]

[ She knows he would try to climb down if he hadn't just promised he'd stay out of the rain. The look she gives him expresses as much.

Gently teasing. ]

Are you going to use it to practice your Shakespeare?

[seenitall]

[He grins at her.]

Thou hast most kindly hit it.

[He really was not made for Shakespearean language.]

[upbyone]

[ She wrinkles her nose. ]

Stick to your strengths, Spy Boy.

[seenitall]

[Oh no, unleash some puppy eyes.]

You don’t like my Mercutio?

[upbyone]

[ They don't work this time. ]

Is that what that was supposed to be?

[seenitall]

[He laughs, half-joking] Who else would it be?

[upbyone]

Is this a quiz on Shakespeare?

[seenitall]

What? I did play Mercutio.

[Not super well, but…]

[upbyone]

And you were passable.

[ Really her favorite thing was that brief moment he smiled up at her like they were just normal teenagers. (She will never say that, though.) ]