July Event: Riding the Wave

[lifeaftr_mods]

JULY EVENT: RIDING THE WAVE

Who: Everyone!
What: The Jormun reappear to allow some transformative fun...and potentially some underwater exploration as well
When: July 10th and onward
Where: Ensō and the ocean floor around it
Warnings: Potential (and fully optional) body/transformation horror may arise when undergoing shifts from land-based to sea-based shapes, and vice versa. Otherwise, tag as you go!

I'll See You on the Other Side
The Jormun resurfaced to greet their old allies on July 8th, bringing with them the offer to explore the ocean floor alongside them. They're not the only old friend that's made a return, however. The kaleidoshells, placid, rainbow-tinted creatures reminiscent of sea turtles, have also made their way to Ensō's shores for their nesting season. For much of the month of July, you'll have to tread carefully around mounds of sand hiding delicate heaps of kaleidoshell eggs. Those of you uninterested in sea exploration can remain on the surface, if you like - the kaleidoshells can make for a stunning sight if you're glimpsing them for the first time as their shells throw off vibrant rainbow swirls of light reflected into the ocean waters.

Predators are always keen to feast on easy prey, and kaleidoshell eggs are no exception. If you feel like protecting them from any hungry slypers or pterax, you'll find that some of the Jormun are happy to stick on the surface with you and assist. They'll even lend you a schlacknorkcvic, which is the Jormun equivalent of a simple driftwood training staff, to help keep any thieving creatures away from the nests of kaleidoshell eggs - though they recommend that you do so peacefully, if possible.

Get Carried Away
Or you can brave the sea waters with the Jormun, instead. With the help of the sne'akleriad pendant, your new, aquatic shape will allow you to navigate the waters just as easily as they. Whether you intend to make use of this new skill to go roaming about and explore some of Ensō's uncharted ocean squares, take a look at that underwater structure that's been sighted before, or just have a joyous time beneath the waves with your new scaly, tentacled, flippered, or be-gilled form, the choice is yours.

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In the meantime, the following links may prove handy:

[ ♆ ] OOC Event Info and Plotting Post
[ ♆ ] Underwater City Exploration Page
[ ♆ ] Jormun NPC Information
[ ♆ ] Ensō's Locations Page

Event Timeline

[ ♆ ] July 8th: The Jormun and the kaleidoshells return to Ensō's shores
[ ♆ ] July 10th: Underwater exploration begins
[ ♆ ] July 17th: Part Two of our second year anniversary Test Drive Meme goes up
[ ♆ ] July 20th: Monthly Storytelling occurs
[ ♆ ] July 22nd: The final island in this voting round appears
[ ♆ ] July 25th: The Jormun return to their home beneath the waves

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[devilstongue]

Alright.

[ He doesn't put any magic in it this time, and his voice is gentler - if still strangely dark. ]

, Mollymauk.

It means 'Pleased to meet you, my name is Mollymauk.'

[ A more literal translation would be 'Stay your blade, I am an ally. The name you may use is Mollymauk.' ]

[catpiper]

[To her credit, she tries.

She really, really tries. It sorta comes out as something?? She probably gets my name is Ren correct. The rest sounds a mixture of the crackly noise the grudge girl makes and wheezing.]

Can you do it again?

[devilstongue]

Alright. Just for you.

[ Smiling at her, Molly then repeats the sentence a bit slower. He isn't sure if it's even possible for humans to speak infernal, but she's kind of getting there? It's sounding a little less like random gurgling. ]

[catpiper]

[She barely knows her own language, but it won't stop her from gurgle trying to learn this one. And for the next few minutes, she really makes an attempt to get this Infernal thing down.

But it's pretty hard.]

Did someone teach you this language?

[devilstongue]

[ She sounds like a really drunk person with a lisp and a few teeth missing, but it's kind of understandable, which is as far as they'd get, in his opinion. No need to press it to much and make it not fun. ]

Lovely. You're a natural.

[ That's mean, Molly. ]

Oh, it comes with the blood. I just suddenly knew it out of nowhere, as if it was magic!

[ ...well, he has no idea, but he likes that lie. ]

[catpiper]

[That encouragement has pretty much sealed the fate of anyone that tries to talk to her in the next few days. She's gonna sputter counterfeit infernal at them.

Your blood knows that kind of thing? Is it talking for you?

[Because that's WEIRD but whatever. Magic beings are wild.]

[devilstongue]

[ He's definitely taking her to Jester and showing off his corruption of a sweet child. See, he can do it too! Kiri who? ]

Well, I think so? I honestly don't know. My family didn't tell me much.

[catpiper]

[Hell yeah, let her practice infernal with people. She does another little gurgle, but mostly ends up saying Ren, Ren, Ren. Whatever, she's trying.]

You're very good at a lot of things, so your blood knows more. That's something I can tell.

[She cannot tell this. Not one dang bit.]

Can you speak lobster?

[devilstongue]

That sounds fair, I'll take it.

[ No, really. It's as good an explanation as any, if he's honest. (He doesn't like being honest, but sometimes...)

Her question, though? It has him grinning. ]

Lobster? Oh, definitely not. Can you?

[catpiper]

No, I tried very hard to talk to them, but my blood doesn't let me do that.

[The casual conversation is just that-quiet and nice. A peaceful moment she craved after all the chaos. She reaches for his hair and, if he doesn't pull away, starts to weave the strands into loose braids around his horns.]

Uncle Kravitz could while he was a fish, but no one else can.

[devilstongue]

[ It is a really nice conversation to have on a beach while guarding eggs. With the two of them here, it seemed like no predators wanted to come close. ]

Your uncle Kravitz was a fish?

[ Was that Hot Guy™ Kravitz? The shy disaster? ]

[catpiper]

Yes, he went into the water and had a tail and-

[She holds up a hand, spreading her fingers out pushing them back together.]

He had something weird between his fingers, so he could swim better. That's what it was for.

[devilstongue]

Oh? Is that new new thing, or does he do that a lot?

[ He heard that the fish guys had some kind of thing going on, so now he's interested. Were they turning others to fish people as well? ]

[catpiper]

I think it's very new. He couldn't become a fish before.

[Or maybe he could?? It's a mystery what these Adventurezones can do, honestly. She learns something new about them every month.]

[devilstongue]

Well, that definitely sounds like something I should get in on. Maybe it' another island bullshit thing?

[ Who knows? Not him. ]

What kind of fish would you be?

[catpiper]

I think it's a 'Jormun bullshit thing'-they let everyone do that with their special treasures.

[But ya know, semantics.]

I want to be a lobster. What fish would you be?

[devilstongue]

I get it, it's another game of this place.

[ Pardon him as he tosses a stick after an encroaching seagull. Leave the eggs alone! ]

Is a lobster a fish? [ He has no idea. ] I don't know much about fish. I never saw the ocean before I got here. What do you think?

[catpiper]

They have to be.

[She's not a lobster expert, but also she is, actually. Thanks. She's raised one for two years-that's got to mean something. Lobster baby to lobster teen to lobster adult. They're fish. Related to fish. Deal in some kind of fishcraft.]

Do you like the ocean now? Do you like swimming?

[devilstongue]

[ He stretches a bit with a sigh, and then gives Ren a small shrug. ]

I don't know. It's beautiful, sure, but it also traps us here on these islands.

[ Molly looks out over the water, red eyes watching the glint of the sun in the blue ripples. Maybe he'd like it more if he had seen it in another circumstance. Maybe as an idiot, stealing a boat with his friends. ]

[catpiper]

You feel trapped?

[It's a hard pill to swallow that her home is a curse to some of the other islanders. She never wants to leave and lives with a freedom she never had back on her world.

The same can't be said for others though and it's hard to hear, especially from the people she cherishes.]

Do you miss your home?

[devilstongue]

Yeah.

[ Molly admits freely, looking at the sea. ]

Not... particularly because of the island itself. I can't go back, so existing in some way is nice. I just don't like the games it plays.

[ He can understand the beauty of this place and the fun and exciting things, but it always came with a catch that just wasn't worth it. ]

It hurts people. My friends.

[catpiper]

[It's a situation she's learned to cope with since her arrival because the alternative is much worse.

But he's not wrong. More than once, she's seen her friends and family get ripped apart by the islands and all their fickle gods. The things it did to her didn't matter-it's an unnecessary worry and she's starting to see that-

He's the same way. The pained way he talks about how It hurts my friends without any regard for his own well-being because Existing in some way is nice.

She gets it and while it's never made her feel like she's stuck behind those locked laboratory doors again, she understands a little better and-

Raises a hand to pat the top of his head and his horns. There there.]

That kind of thing-I don't like it when they get hurt or if you get hurt. It's scary, but they're very strong.

[Another little pat and-]

You're very strong. It's okay.

[devilstongue]

[ He's... not sure what to make of that. Ren has reminded him of Toya a lot, but she's also very much not like kids are supposed to be at times. Molly has no idea if it has to do with her personality, her world of just trauma from this fucking place, but her tolerance for things seems kind of skewed.

Still, he accepts her wisdom(?) and headpats, because this is a shitty subject and he doesn't want to be sad next to her. ]

I'll be strong.

[ He agrees, softly. Strong enough to somehow help getting his friends home - and everyone else that wanted to leave.

(Maybe it would just be him and a handful left.) ]

What's your favorite part of this place?

[catpiper]

[She's been here so long that his question doesn't get an immediate answer. How does she choose between her campsite, the patches of tall grass, the doodle covered tree trunks, the holes filled with rocks and shells and treasures-everything.

How does she choose between gods that find the rare medicine that allows her to live and the people who make her want to do so?

But maybe that's what makes the decision so easy too.]

I like seeing you. I like seeing everyone-when they smile at me and at each other and say nice things like 'Hello, how are you?' and 'Hello, are you hungry?' and 'Hello, pumpkin'-that's my favorite part. Everyone's kind heart shines all the time and I really like it.

[devilstongue]

[ That's... ridiculously sweet, honestly. Molly's features soften and he smiles at her. Ren's innocent love for life was just what was needed right now. ]

Alright. That's a really good part, pumpkin.

[ He opens his arms for a hug. It feels like a good pick-me-up right now. ]