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imaginarylogs2020-08-08 08:15 pm
imaginarymods) wrote in imaginarylogs2020-08-08 08:15 pm
extra mission log 1 : the island of dancing animals
EXTRA MISSION : LOG ONE
Mission Dossier | NPC Information | Setting Information | Questions
| "Being a detective in real life isn't like it is in stories. I can't solve this one alone." |
A New Transmission.
"Hello sirs! I finally got this thing working — or it started working, I'm not sure it was me — anyway, I'm — I'm Angus McDonald! I'm a detective. S-some of you know me, you worked together to help me solve a mystery and I — I need your help again.Something's missing, um, in my head. Memories. I know I should know some things, but when I reach for them they're gone. There's a Relic on this island, I know that much, but I don't know where or what it is. I don't know where the Director is, or the Bureau, and I don't know where the Hunger is but I know — I know it's out there. It's close. It's coming.
If you can hear me, if you can help me, please come find me. I know we can figure this out, but being a detective in real life isn't like it is in stories. I can't solve this one alone."
The Island of Dancing Animals.
The island of Baisla has been hospitable to you Reclaimers for the past few weeks, its Animalian hosts eager to share knowledge, housing, food, and work with your seemingly-shipwrecked souls. The menagerie wastes no time introducing Reclaimers (and, for some reason, a few Lyrabar socialites and pirates) to their vibrant music, energetic dancing, enhanced technomancy, and magical connection with the runestone beasts of the southern ruins. Though there has been no sign of any member of the Bureau of Balance while you've been here (and no one to brief you on a mission, of course), a light appears in the form of some direction from one Angus McDonald.
The mysteries don't stop with you, either. As beautiful as this island is, there are certain... oddities.... such as the shimmering barrier that surrounds the water at all times, keeping everyone in. Or the Gilded Wall, rumored to hold back a terrible evil.... or the glitches that seem to keep cropping up. It seems every moment spent here is accompanied by a newer, fresh mystery. Some questions loom more than others, though: Will your investigations uncover the secrets behind this island and your — and Angus's — lost memories? Or will your search for the last Relic leave you marooned?
G-G-G-Glitching
By now you've noticed those strange glitch-like images all around you on the island; fruits that don't quite "load" correctly and instead display fruit-shaped static; otherwise-ordinary-looking but immaterial trees and lampposts with miscolored squares and rectangles pieced out of them; even natural stone walls that can't be climbed as they display nothing but what appears to be a warped, miscolored stone-texture; and so on.
The more adventurous Animalians have discovered that using different path actions can fix these glitches (or worsen them, depending). They don't have much other intel on them, but tampering with the glitches seen around the island may lead to some.... interesting outcomes... Success will certainly earn the gratitude of the Animalians, who would really like their island to not look like a heat-damaged VHS tape.
A Wall of Gold
Some of you may have encountered the consecrated Gilded Wall and its strange magic-dampening properties as you've gotten the lay of the land. It's a pretty noticeable landmark, both opulent and foreboding. The Animalians have discouraged you from getting too close, referring only vaguely to its necessity in keeping the residents of Baisla safe. Some of them don't seem to want to talk about it, in the sense that speaking of evil gives the evil power. Some of them, though, just don't understand the history well enough to explain it.
But there is someone on the island who understands the history, because he was there to see it: Elder Marinero, who the Animalians may eventually point you towards if you're particularly persistent in asking after the Gilded Wall. However, if you try to ask him about it in Common, you may be out of luck; he only speaks Animalian! Magic and old-fashioned studying will certainly be a boon in communications with this stubborn old bat. If the Elder is a bust, it's possible to get past the fussy Animalians to investigate the Gilded Wall yourself. Try to test your magic by the wall again, and you'll find that it's working now. Surely someone can figure out what's got the islanders so spooked about this great golden landmark.
A History in Ruins
On the other hand, maybe the Strange Ruins will have a hint on your current predicament. They're a wonderful experience for the academically-inclined, regardless of your interest (or lack thereof) in the Gilded Wall. Animalian archaeologists and tourists from Lyrabar are a common sight at the Strange Ruins, both groups often being guided by Professor Jerry or his assistant, Kipper. Prof. Jerry explains that these ruins are what Animalians have based their practice of magic on for all of recorded history; they're much older than even Elder Marinero! You can enjoy the sights with the tourists or lend a hand to the archaeologists--including Angus, whose sharp detective instincts have led him to the murals in these ruins. He doesn't know why, but these images call to him. He's certain they have something to do with his missing memory and the location of the Relic! Perhaps deciphering some of these images will help him solve this mystery. Or at least (re)teach you some pretty cool path actions!
Runestone Rubble
If you want old stuff that's less academic, check out the Coliseum. You can watch all kinds of cool fights here--or participate in them! Of note are the large, animal-like creatures made of glowing stone, which feature in many of the challenges. They say the eccentric magpie K.V. of K.V. Labs is the resident expert on these beasts, as well as the rest of the magitech on Baisla. It might be worth paying the lab a visit if you're curious about the nuts and bolts of it all--but if the Coliseum is your kind of place, you're probably more interested in punching than studying!
Thankfully, you're allowed to do that. Respected Baisla warriors and fearsome magitech beasts are happy to meet you in battle to test your mettle. You can fight your fellow Reclaimers here too, for fun and bragging rights. Victors are rewarded with a variety of prizes, though you never know what you're going to get. And the experience of battle is its own reward, paying dividends in keeping your mind and body sharp. Maybe you'll even learn something about the beasts or gain some loyal fans with your performance in the fights. There are three potential routes you can take: fighting your fellow Reclaimers for some clout, fighting the island's elite Animalian warriors for a variety of rewards, and the most difficult (but exciting) battles of all: taking on the magitech beasts and their handlers, something even most respected Baisla warriors fall short of accomplishing. The rules of the Coliseum are as follows:1.) Show respect and good sportsmanship.
2.) Only those signed up may fight--no outside help once the battle has begun.
3.) Nonlethal bouts only. A victor is declared once surrender or incapacitation occurs.
Island Hospitality.
Cafe Calamari
The Bureau of Balance is missing, which includes Bender! How will you ever get your magical grub on?
At Café Calamari, of course! For some reason, Chef Miso Fou is here smack dab in a saltwater lake in the middle of the island. His cute little swim-up tiki bar caters to the Reclaimers especially with a very familiar menu, as well as a few new courses and the exciting potential of new dishes, should you request them! The aesthetic really seems to vibe with the tourists that flock to it, though the food is not always to everyone's taste.
...But something's a bit strange there, or rather, someone. A goose named Ronaldo paces around the area trying to get the attention of newcomers and convince them of weirdo conspiracy theories about the lake under Miso Fou's bar!! He carries around crayon drawings of otherwise-normal-looking jellyfish with pictures projected in their domes, but most Animalians and tourists alike pay Ronaldo no mind. He's well-known for his... unorthodox ramblings. Could there really be something to his suspicions? The locals certainly don't think so!
Boardwalk Boogie
Looking for supplies, food, or perhaps even a job? Head down to the Brightway Boardwalk for just that! Night and day, the island's economic hub is always at least simmering with excitement, if not bubbling over! Especially with all these tourists and new folk around to entertain. Located just behind most of the seaside cabanas, the Brightway Boardwalk is more than just a bunch of studios, businesses, and fish markets; it also hosts the grounds for the seasonal Dance Competition.
The Boardwalk Boogie Band plays nearly every day at the Boardwalk Square, where one can usually find the island's mayor-of-sorts, a cow named Lola. A tall Astrologian in a starry cape, she makes a cutting figure... if not elusive. Lola might actually be a bit hard to get a hold of, what with a new Dance Competition coming up. If you manage to stop her, she'll simply urge you to join in; after all, non-locals have a place in the competition as well! Dance teams are limited to 3 people for out-of-island entries. You have plenty of time to practice before the big Boardwalk Boogie night, which starts at sunset and ends at sunrise. It seems like Boogie Night is all the island can talk about and studios are even offering free classes lately. Why not jump in and learn to dance?
...Unless you aren't interested, of course. That's just fine! The boardwalk connects to the harbor, where Captain Baxley and his mixed-bag crew pull in the island's share of fish every day. They seem a bit disoriented by being unable to sail out as far as they usually do, but the fishing fare near the shore is just as well. They'll certainly put you to work if you seem bored or they need the help! The fish market caters to early risers and the sea-side taverns cater to late sleepers. Here is where you'll find experts in a wider variety of paths, and even a few fox Vulpish who might be willing to train with a Reclaimer or two.
Scenic Spots
If you're still looking for more places to hit up, there's still quite the array of areas! Academics can refresh their path actions or read up on Baisla at the Roswell Center, a hospital up north that also hosts a pretty good library and all sorts of studies. Just to the west of the center is the scenic natural resort Las Cascadas, or the Cascades. Though most of this smaller island is simply a lush, naturally-organized paradise perfect for relaxing and hanging with platypuses, the highest areas of the Cascades also provide a vantage point where the curious can see the dark mist past the Gilded Wall.
For the more hunting-and-monster-fighting-oriented explorer, the Foggy Forest on the mainland is home to huntable animals and animal hybrids such as frog-squirrels and raccoon-crows. Once you deal with the glitches, the forest also bears the fruits the Animalians love so much; you might be able to strike a sweet deal if you offer them for trade! They will warn you, however, not to venture too far into the forest....
On the outer islands lay Miaoteo's Workshop, where Reclaimers in need of equipment can trade fish for weapons made right in front of them; Elder Marinero's house where Animalians gather for oral retellings of their history; and even an unclaimed island perfect for camping. Try to avoid that last island if you don't want trouble, though; the pirates lurking there don't seem as friendly as those on the mainland.
Check out more to explore on these areas in our Setting Information page!
Island Wilds.
The Crystal Lagoon
Surrounding the main island is the Crystal Lagoon, picturesque still waters full of gorgeous reefs that resemble crystal, which are teeming with docile wildlife like gentle sharks and jellyfish. The ecosystem here is bountiful and full of life -- ideal for the Reclaimer who wants to study, or just cool off and relax. The locals will shoo you off if they see you making too much of a splash, as they prefer these waters remain undisturbed!
It's curious, though. With so much algae and reef underwater, one would expect the waters to be more on the shallow side -- but if a Reclaimer chooses to dive down, they may discover that the waters run much deeper than they might expect. The water itself becomes darker, murkier, as they stray from the coral...
Curious indeed.
Deep Foggy Forest
No Animalian would dare wander here, as there are whispers of terrible creatures lurking within and other strange happenings... But if any Reclaimer should venture out here against their advice, they'll find a peculiar atmosphere, indeed. Despite being part of the Foggy Forest, there's a marked difference in the visuals alone. The foliage itself almost seems to be hostile: denser, more like a jungle, gnarled and threatening to trip you at every turn. The fog pervades, making it difficult to see more than five feet in front of you. Even some of the trees seem to be in decay.
The glitches, too, are more threatening in this place: black sap, glowing fruit, vines that clip through the ground and grab you, patches of quicksand that seize you the second you make a wrong step, insects much larger than you’d ever expect to see them, and so forth.
Worse than that, the further in you go, the more you may feel as though you're being watched -- every so often, you catch sight of something monstrous and grotesque in the corner of your eye -- but as soon as you move your head, it's gone. Strange, indistinguishable whispers fill your ears, just louder than the buzzing of insects, and well. Best to be alert. Most creatures you may encounter are not hostile, but the more time you spend here, the less the forest seems to tolerate you. Your luck may not last so long.
Tread lightly, Reclaimers.
Whispers in the Water
Speaking of peculiar happenings, there seems to be more strange happenings afoot. Or... aswim, rather. If a Reclaimer should be swimming around Miso Fou's Bar, the Crystal Lagoon, or the Cascades, they may find themselves hearing voices.
Some unfamiliar, some familiar -- some so familiar, actually, that Reclaimers may hear words they could have sworn they've either said themselves or heard another say to them -- giving them the strangest sense of deja vu.
The voices subside just as abruptly as they began, leaving the source difficult to identify.
A note from your Navigators.
Welcome, Reclaimers, to your first Extra Mission Log! Thank you for sticking with us! We hope you'll enjoy the plans we have for you in this mysterious adventure to find Lucretia and the missing Relic.
We have a couple of fun signups available here, including a special NPC interaction! These particular signups will be open until August 13th at 9PM EST. Regular NPC interactions can be found here!
For adventure rolls head over here and to order food from Miso Fou, head over here! Please direct any questions here!
Thanks for playing, and happy navigating!
no subject
He takes to the emoji comfortably enough in that way that means he must've known about them once, and opts to leave off the dash noses, given his lack of nose. The eyes and mouths can stay.
He doesn't take to the explanation at all well, and it's a little bit blue screen-inducing. "...It... Devours worlds? Whole worlds got eaten?? Could that be... why I don't remember mine???"
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"I don't think so, sir! Because almost everybody I know here had their world eaten, sir, and they remember theirs. So your amnesia has to do with something else, I'm almost positive!"
Papyrus's universe may still be destroyed, but that's not the point of this very helpful statement.
"Would you like help investigating why you don't remember anything? Or maybe help remembering? I have a great deal of investigating to do myself, but I'd like to help you, too! And then—" He sticks out a small hand to shake, with a stubborn look. "Then I'll know you, so you won't be alone anymore!"
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Someday, he'll revisit this to wonder why he assumed erased worlds equaled amnesia, why erasure begets forgetting what was erased...
But in this moment, he's busy latching onto Angus' hand - and the offers of things to do - in slightly desperate relief.
"That... That sounds like a great idea!" Don't mind the hint of tears at the edges of his eyesockets. He follows through on the shake, then releases before it gets too awkward. "We can help each other! Solving mysteries, finding lost memories, forging new ones... Two minds are better than one!"
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Angus looks extremely pleased that he's able to turn Papyrus's mood around so easily. He means what he promised, of course! He wants to help Papyrus very much. And he has an idea of how to start.
Gesturing at the murals, he says, "Some people have said to me that stories have to have a beginning, middle, and end! These murals show those, too. I just have to figure out which is which. So maybe we can think of your memories like that, too."
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A little dragon and a maybe-human with a staff... The same staff and blue like the maybe-human's outfit mingling with thorny vines... The little dragon again, with just a levitating book...
"So... A story with a beginning, middle, and end," Papyrus muses, slightly less manic in his tone now that they're onto topics he's not personally anxious about. "But we don't know what order they're in... Maybe, the dragon used a magic book, and saved a that person with the staff from some vines. And that's why they're bowing, to say thanks."
He can almost feel what it would be like to be wrapped up in thorny vines until there's no Papyrus left. If anything like that happened to him... he'd be glad to be free of it!
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Angus sounds genuinely impressed. That is a good way of seeing things, especially since the book has been puzzling him. But it also leaves him a bit preoccupied-sounding. Why does that sound so familiar? He can't put his finger on it (DC 16; 3).
"If you're right, then the story had a happy ending and this is a happy mural." Somehow this doesn't seem probable. But it would be nice, wouldn't it. "Would that make the dragon the hero? But if things happened in a different order, the dragon might not be the hero at all. The dragon might have caused that person with the staff to be wrapped in vines in the first place."
Hm. He rubs his chin.
"What if . . . it is a magic book, but it doesn't fix everything and save the person right away? That seems more realistic, doesn't it? Maybe it's the first step in making everything right."
no subject
He's not sure how many mural stories he's seen in his life, if any. But at some point he's ingested enough stories to have an idea how a narrative should be presented, and that sure isn't it.
"If that's how it goes, there should be more murals, for the next steps. Unless. Do you think, they got broken...?"
They are in some ruins. Maybe the ruins are more ruined than they know. That would make sense, the clue's right there in the name and everything.
no subject
So saying, he begins peering around at other bits of mural in other areas of the Ruins. The first one he finds (No DC; 4) is of what appears to be a small hut containing a forge, a bench with tools on it, and a wicker basket full of . . . fish? Maybe?
Angus frowns. “I’m not sure how this is related. Except the fish are the same color as the monster in the mural? Is that something?” He seems unconvinced.
no subject
There's some kind of idiom for this situation, he's sure. In the land of amnesiacs, the two-eyed skeleton leads the four-eyed boy? That's probably it. Papyrus has little memory to his name except literally his name, and yet this young detective respects his judgement enough to be asking his opinions, and it's great for his ego. But also he has to work twice as hard to cover his uncertainty.
"More than just color connects them... Just think! Fish have scales, dragons have scales... Maybe. Maybe! That basket is full of small, marine dragons!" How that's related to books or mystery ladies with staves, remains to be seen.
no subject
Angus looks kind of worried, honestly! That might be too many dragons! It might be dangerous. On the other hand, they might be orphaned and unable to take care of themselves. Is he worried for his own safety or that of the theoretical dragon babies? Even he doesn't know.
"Do baby dragons not have legs, sir? Because these don't have legs."
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Papyrus, for his part, has no reason to theorize such a thing. No context of shenanigans beyond that fourth wall, and besides he's entirely too busy racking his brain for details about dragons... and mostly just wracking it.
"Uhhhhhh... Well! If they're marine dragons! It's more important they have tails, I think."
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The marine dragon theory, on the other hand, is of dubious merit. "They're not tadpoles," Angus says, in a somewhat know-it-all-ish way, and then immediately doubts himself. They could be like tadpoles. He's a detective, not a scientist.
"Well. If they are dragons, why are they in a basket?"
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Maybe there's more clues in some of the other murals? He starts looking around for more imagery they've overlooked, because he's missing too much of the context to begin to feel truly confident in his sense of the narrative here.
Sure, he could go with the perfectly acceptable way of making one up and sticking to it regardless of contradictions from the rest of reality, a time-honored classic... But he's getting the sense like Angus would find some way to poke holes in that sort of theory. And he wants to help! And win Angus' respect!
no subject
Maybe there's something more to this story, though, albeit not of the basket variety. A little bit of searching reveals a small, scuffed picture in the corner of the alcove, difficult to see in the dim light. It's of what does appear to be a dragon, large and with its neck arced low to the ground, where another dragon sits facing away. Both are silver, reflecting every so slightly in the low light.
no subject
The odd reflective quality of the art grabs his attention, especially given that the picture's already scuffed - how much more reflective would they have been when first made? Despite the amnesia, his puzzle senses are tingling.
With a little prestidigitation to light one of his torches, he tests holding it up at various angles, both to check for any fine details, and - perhaps more importantly - to see if the light reflects off in any direction to make anything glow. You know, like a good old fashioned mirror puzzle.
no subject
Angus catches up to Papyrus and looks from one wall to the other, contemplative. "That's funny, isn't it? The way they're the same in both. And the second ones are hidden, so they must be important."
no subject
"Hidden dragons... with even more hidden, secret non-dragon forms??" That sounds familiar come to think of it, and he scratches his chin with his free hand. "I heard some people can turn into dogs. Can dragons turn into not-dragons?"
no subject
Ahahaha. Boy, this is stressful.
"These dragons are all the same kind of dragon. All the ones here on the walls, including the ones that are definitely fish — they're all silver. So maybe the silver ones are the only ones that can change?" Rattling his brain, it turns out that does not have a definitive answer. Okay, fine, memories.
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He's seen a couple dragony people around the islands in his time since waking up, enough to notice patterns. They're a range of colors, some vividly colorful, others more metallic. But like so many of the Animalians, they tend to be the sort to walk on two legs. And there haven't been many wings to speak of. So maybe thinking about the people isn't the trick here. What's special about silver, compared to those other colors or metals?
"Werewolves don't like silver, I think. And isn't silver used in old mirrors...?"
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Which is a bad excuse, and not one that makes a lot of sense, but what other reason would there be for him to not know everything about everything?
"Well, some people think it's got healing powers. It's very easy to shape, too. Associated with the moon?" Angus squints at the wall, as though it's going to give up some more answers. "Is it possible these are actually werewolves?"
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Papyrus has absolutely no idea what the word for a group of dragons is, but whatever it is, the were-variant is probably a different word. Maybe there isn't an official one, and he's just coined it.
Still, brainstorming brilliant ideas and even more brilliant terminology aside, there's something to Angus' metallurgy thoughts. Easy to shape, healing powers... Turning into purple thorns seems like the opposite of healing. He just needs another minute to mull things over.
no subject
"If they're turning into dragons, then you're saying dragon isn't their true form . . . I wonder, though, that big dragon. He isn't anywhere else on the mural, is he? At least not that I've seen. Maybe he's the werewolf."
This is dumb.
no subject
This is very silly.
Was he building to some kind of point? Maybe, but does that really matter, in the face of imagining such an epic showdown? This kind of whimsy feels familiar. Like he should be holding plastic toys and making them go to town in a simulated battle, or something.
no subject
Congratulations, Papyrus, you have succeeded in getting Angus to take this seriously.
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"That makes sense! I've known some powerful wolves, but dragons..." He trails off, blinking at his own words. Apparently, he knows wolves. Makes sense, he took in the Animalians without a second thought. But it's always a surprise when his mouth knows things before his mind does.
"And. Uh. Most dragons are more powerful, probably. So if the were-stuff only adds... maybe half the strength..."
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