mingle | wee woo wee woo

[crosslaced]

Who: You
What:The Ai'tuoh rules have been described for your convenience. Feel free to react, make plans, and otherwise mingle!
When: 11/3 onwards
Where: Ai'tuoh's mana pool
Warnings: Ai'tuoh.

[A wooden signpost has been set up next to Ai’tuoh’s mana pool. It’s filled with charcoal text:]

READ THIS: AI’TUOH LAWS
If you break these rules and are caught, you will be punished by “purging in the Standing Water“. Possibly, drowning?


Water is sacred to them, handle it carefully.

Travel in groups of less than three. Any more is illegal.

Do not mention any god that isn't theirs. Especially not the Storyteller.

No writings. No music. No drawings. To say they do not like the Storyteller is an understatement.

No pockets, no jewelry, no perfumes or soap scents.

Hide hair that isn't brown, black, grey, or blonde. Wear only dull colors: Brown, grey or black, white.

Do not express your emotions. No hugging or touches. No laughter or loud outbursts.

Hide weaponry. No violence, no destruction of property, no killing of animals or people. I say this but I know no one will listen to me. Fuck all of you.

No theft, haggling, or transactions outside the market area. Don't get caught.

The sale of “inedible goods not native to our city” as well as live animals are not allowed. They're not allowed in the city, period.


The full list of rules can be found in the library building. I'd suggest you give it a look, but I know half of you don't give a damn about rules, let alone ones that demand all of your agency. Don’t get caught.

Comments

[savedbyasong]

Shion hadn't gone straight to the new island even though he was vastly curious. The world that the Tower had been on had been dead. Just like all their own worlds. Here it was different. There had been the Jormunn, Shion had arrived just as they were leaving back to their home, and now this island. He wondered what they would be like, what they would think about people pulled in from different worlds.

So he was curious and cautiously optimistic right up until he saw the sign. He read through it, memorising each point and getting angrier as he read. The first couple were alright, water was sacred. No big groups, seemed odd but from then on... No writing, no drawing, no emotions, no touching, no hugging.

Shion stood there staring at the sign. It was like No.6. More obvious maybe in that it had rules to follow, rather than unspoken, unwritten rules that were there none the less.

And if they broke them they would be killed? Possibly by drowning despite the fact there was a rule about killing people and water was sacred. He shook in anger, in fear. That this place existed... that such a place could be allowed to exist. More people living obedient whilst those that broke the rules were killed.

He didn't move, he just stood staring. Panic rose in him, he couldn't move, couldn't think. He had to get out, get back to the other island but at the same time he was so angry, he wanted to yell at the sky. People... people lived there.

Keeping his thoughts together was too difficult and for a moment he forgot all his practice, all his training and just panicked.

Plot? Pot? Pan? Plot??? [will match formatting]

[achievementhunter]

[Realistically, none of this is truly surprising. Stepping through the mana pool to Ai'tuoh for the first time, Laurent's cunning signpost captures Chara's attention... long enough to decide on an actual approach to this island, going forward.

So for those coming in after them, look forward to immediately being captured by the steady gaze of a currently unimpressed child, dank cave totally a fitting atmosphere for a short, curt]

Greetings.

[lightlessfuture]

[ The little bug fits in well with Ai'tuoh's blandness and adherence to structure; aside from the minor inconvenience of their weapon requiring permission to be carried, they're practically a model visitor.

But that's not what they intend to be for long. They stare back at Chara and then step aside to allow space for others to pass through, their movement taking them closer.

Chara reminds them of the Hunter, in many ways; there's a certain keen edge to them, always looking for danger, always ready for it to come. In a hostile, predatory world, that is a strength.

They wonder, not for the first time, what Chara's world is like - but it's a question better saved for later. They simply look up at Chara, instead, tilting their head curiously. What are they thinking? ]

[achievementhunter]

[Well hello again, little friend. Chara crouches down to place them on a more level playing field-- and in an instance of foresight, place their notebook and a pen on the ground. Should be a little easier than drawing in the dirt, no?

(A note, for later, to provide them with a book and pen of their own.)]

Have you explored the city, as of yet?

[lightlessfuture]

[ They have a whiteboard, given to them by the kindness of others, but they can't carry a whiteboard everywhere. It's a little too unwieldy for that, especially for someone who fights and moves fast.

At Chara's question, they nod.

very quiet

very still

don't like it

too pale

Pale seems to hold a certain meaning for them, in that case. ]

[achievementhunter]

[They nod in turn, lips pursing. Even if the meaning doesn't leap out at them, the implication of 'pale' being weighted translates. There's something wrong with the place, according to the tiny knight. Chara is inclined to believe it.]

Any other sources of information, aside from the library? Points of interest?

[lightlessfuture]

[ inn near water .

buildings with supplies inside . people inside who make things .

market .

houses .

place with many guards outside .

library has written things but nowhere else i could see .

i listened but nobody talks in houses or city . only the inn .

Their small size is a boon; nobody thinks to look down most of the time, and with their lack of coloration, they blend in with the city's inhabitants and structures. It lets them avoid the keen eyes of the guards, though they have enough sense to put obstacles between them and any people who might object to their presence.

It makes them an ideal spy, at least for this purpose. And with their speed, they seem to have explored a great deal already. ]

[achievementhunter]

[Sounds like a typically structured town. Place with many guards outside could possibly be...a fortress? Some style of headquarters? It's impressive, that the little bug has picked up this much already.]

In that case, the inn sounds like the most likely destination for getting some context. [A purse of their lips, before Chara looks down at their bright red robe, green and yellow sweater hidden beneath.] Though... perhaps a change of clothing, first.

[lightlessfuture]

[ the buildings with supplies had clothes inside .

people wear robes there . They've seen a lot of variety in clothing among their fellow islanders, and variations in armor and cloaks among their travelers back in their own world. There's no such diversity in the strange, cold city.

could take some . 'Stealing' implies that the Knight thinks of it as a theft, and since they're the pragmatic sort, they do not.

(Besides, Ai'tuoh makes their flesh, such as it is, crawl in unpleasant ways. It reminds them too much of Hallownest, despite the lack of ornamentation; though the inhabitants are still alive, they have more than a passing resemblance to the Knight's mind with the dead bugs still stumbling along Hallownest's streets and buildings.

They don't mind stealing from a lifeless city like this.) ]

[achievementhunter]

[Robes. They can't say they're particularly keen on robes...but they've suffered through wearing them before. After a moments contemplation, Chara nods, considering the little knight carefully.]

It would be most advantageous if you could- preferably larger ones, for those taller than us.