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hugtopiamods ([personal profile] hugtopiamods) wrote in [community profile] hugtopia_logs2020-03-13 10:34 pm

♥ March (Ainir) Event Log

small purple flower sprouting through snow
March Event Log

Spring has sprung! Or at least, in theory. The month began monthly unremarkably, besides the priests of Ainea's temple prepping for the first month in their deity's season, which tends to be a little sleepy as the city traditionally shakes off those winter woes. The earthquakes still has everyone feeling a strange anticipation for change, but with how long it's gone with no noteworthy shifts yet, excitement has grown somewhat muted. All of that is about to change...



PROMPT I: Let the Rain Fall Down
a decorated garden pathway through a large greenhouse

The month begins with something peculiar: a sudden rainfall occurring sporadically, not just in sections of the city the way it does when the weather system is malfunctioning, but rather consistent across the entire city. The natives in town are flummoxed; this rain is natural, passing harmlessly through the barrier, and the water that falls to the ground is clean, unpoisoned by the perpetual storm and toxic air outside. The rain comes in waves, from a light drizzle to a steady stream, and while it is not raining all day every day, it is probably best practice to travel with an umbrella on hand for a while.

Before long, the effects of this natural rainfall will become apparent: the city is undergoing an unexpected period of growth. Flowers, fauna, and all sorts of greenery are sprouting up in all areas of the city where grass or soil exists. It appears that at last your effort is paying off, and life is returning to Havenwell in a big way. The types of plants that grow will range in type, colour, and species- many of them are live versions of the extinct plants that have been on display in the museums, or whatever is already on display in the gardens. Some of the plants that grow might also be familiar to the visitors of this world- a small slice of your home, adopted by the gods that your touch have rejuvenated.

One downside is that since all these changes are happening at once, in such a short span, the botanical community is ill-equipped to make sure all of these new plants have a chance to thrive on their own. Many things that grow can be left where they stand, but the seemingly randomized placement means that certain plants aren't in a good spot. A tree sapling sprouting in the cracks of the sidewalk, or a sunflower tucked away beneath a rooftop, for example.

Thus, the community is asking for volunteers to help relocate plants to the proper areas. Most should be going to the parks, gardens, or temples, areas with clean, existent soil but with nothing yet growing there. These locations have been tested, and have been determined to be safe for planting- it seems that the rain has purified whatever sour ground that the barrier hasn't kept clean, to make way for the new plants. They can also be relocated to personal residences, for those houses that have gardens or a bit of soil if you're willing to install your own. As the rain continues to fall, plants will keep growing, so when the flora and fauna are relocated there will be more growing in its place before long. Lots of work to be done if you're to save the new life in town!

If you wish to include a specific plant from your canon: please request it in the PLANT FROM HOME APPROVAL thread on the plotting post!

Please be aware that much like the rest of the plants growing around town, those from home will begin as seeds and grow gradually over the course of the event. Keep that in mind!


PROMPT II: Hold My Flower
the back of someone's head, wearing a colourful flower crown

As the days pass, and there seems to be no end to the growth in town, the natives are growing increasingly excited, and when the collection of flowers becomes such a plethora that there are too many, they explain that the timing of this is very on-point: years ago, before the world began to die, they celebrated a Festival of Flowers, to welcome the shift of winter to spring in their corner of the world. In previous years, the tradition lived on in a simpler form, with paper or synthetic flowers, but it isn't really the same without hair so interest waned.

A major part of the festival involves flower weaving, in many intricate patterns and arrangements, all of which have different meanings, like an arranged bouquet might. These flowers are sewn together into crowns, or woven directly into the recipient's hair, a delicate and rather intimate act done between friends, family, or lovers alike. Since the robots of town can't really benefit from this shared experience (of neither physical interaction or hair weaving), instead they happily pass along their knowledge of arrangements and techniques, floral symbolism. You can follow along with their directions, or just make something up/create something new, though certain unwitting combinations are bound to earn some curious (or amused) looks from the locals. For those of you who lack long hair for such acts, despair not! Crowns placed on short hair are just as socially welcome as the weavings, as you'll see from the robots wearing similar designs around town.

However, there is a chance that the rain is also causing something other than plants to grow around town… namely, exposed hair. Those who get caught in the downpour might inexplicably notice that their hair is an inch or two longer the next morning… and then longer… and longer… there is no hard or fast limit to how much it grows, and cutting it may help for a time, but it does not stem the growth either. Maybe you should just relax and enjoy it for a while.


PROMPT III: Scheme of the Wyrm Queen
the logo for king's knight with 4 heroes and the title clumsily edited to show scheme of the wyrm queen


Developed by Noctis and Pyra, in collaboration with the VR cafes, Havenwell officially presents: King's Knight 2.0: Scheme of the Wyrm Queen, a game that will be available going forward and premieres this month.

This game is designed to be like an MMO/mobile game, except in VR- every player gets an account, and to an extent their avatars are customizable. There are a set number of levels per playthrough, you can stop and pick up any time after a level ends, and you can re-arrange your party members at the start of each play session.

You can charge through levels just smashing away at enemies, but part of the game mechanic is that physical contact between characters in-game will provide stat boosts, enhancements, occasional heals or buffs, soft revives at 0HP, etc. The effect can vary depending on the nature of contact, but is also randomized to an extent, to allow for player freedom. Let's just say that intent plays a part... so touch someone and wish with your heart, and maybe something nice will happen. Or at least something kind of cheesy. (Noctis would like to establish that he did not program in that part.)

Noteworthy features:
  • The plot: The evil dragon queen Nebula has kidnapped the prince of Oriens and absconded to the realm of monsters with him for some nefarious purpose. The gods of Totally Not Aellyn bless a group of heroes with the power to travel through that realm in order to rescue the prince! ...That's it. What, do you think you're here for plot? Nah. You're here to fight monsters and collect treasure.

  • A party can consist of 2-4 characters of any class arrangement, though a somewhat balanced party is encouraged to survive each level. Repeated training (or grinding) can help characters acquire better gear drops or level up if they get stuck, but there is an emphasis on teamwork to get you through it!

  • "Death" in-game causes a character to become translucent and unable to interact with the game until healed or revived, or until the level ends. If all characters reach this status, they fail the level and the game is over. All characters are healed to full once a level is beaten.

  • Levels are randomly generated based on a set amount of algorithms, to shake up the experience and make each game a little bit different. There is a plot as noted above, with some dialogue and programmed NPCs, but interaction with either is simple and can be ignored or skipped after the first run-through if you so choose.

  • Certain accounts of people who were a part of the development (AKA those who Noctis pestered about designing things) will gain access to unique costume options upon initial log-in, like a pre-order bonus. These items are cosmetic only, but look pretty nifty.

  • The difficulty setting can be adjusted according to player skill, so if anyone feels like Normal is beyond their ability, don't be ashamed to turn it down a notch! Player accessibility is more important. There are leaderboards for each difficulty, but it's mostly for bragging rights and don't earn you anything special.

Available Classes:
  • Knight - a well-rounded swordsman with a shield, built tough for the front line and defense

  • Thief - master of finding hidden objects, detecting traps, disarming foes, the fastest class

  • Sorcerer - commanding the elements, attack from a distance and overwhelm your enemies; glass cannon

  • Battle Cleric - wielder of a magic weapon that recognizes friends from foes; striking an ally will heal them without injury, striking a foe will tear them down

  • Dragoon - specializes in aerial assault, heavy hits and safe retreats, can reach high areas

  • Archer - speedy attacks at long distance; inexplicably great at parkour and glitching out of bounds for treasure

Enemies:

Monsters in-game vary between generic beasts of lore, parody versions of creatures found in Final Fantasy XV, and some monsters based on descriptions that Noctis or Pyra acquired from asking people. These are subject to change on request, as the game will be developing gradually to improve itself.

If you have suggestions or requests for monsters, treasures, or equipment, please submit them to the additional information page on King's Knight, where such updates will be tracked!


PROMPT IVish: A Final Reminder
The soft earthquakes in effect since last month are still ongoing, however they have spread out more and are no longer occurring every day, but instead with a handful of gaps in between. As noted in the Intro Mingle log, there are new messages that characters can receive:

1) "Change is coming." this message is passive, almost like a greeting.
2) "We thank you for all you have done." this message is softer, almost apologetic.
3) "We shall do all we can to keep you safe." this message is gentle, almost parental in its affection.
4) "Share your bounty and your joy." this message is kind and encouraging, tugging you toward people you may not have met yet.
5) "Remember to keep the balance." this message is plaintive, but without urgency.
6) "Do not approach the walls." this message is LOUD, insistent, and the most frequently transmitted.
7) "Soon, change." this message is a gentle reminder.
8) "We welcome you to our home." This message is sent most frequently to newcomers.
9) "Be not afraid. You are safe." this message is polite and reassuring.
10) "Keep your footing and watch your step." this message is cautious, a firm warning.

Most of the residents have stopped linking up, since the messages are mostly on repeat, but the local temple priests still do it every time… just in case. Otherwise, it's easy enough to ignore for most people. The anticipation hasn't faded, but they're simply waiting for whatever comes next.




This event will run from March 13th to 29th. Click on each prompt's title to see the text. If you have any questions, feel free to direct them to the FAQ or to the Mod Question thread on the plotting post.
this_loser: (00 tilted head)

[personal profile] this_loser 2020-03-17 03:42 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah!

[He crawls up to his knees and makes some effort to brush the dirt from his shirt.]

Usually there's only flowers in the gardens.
gatescostmoney: icon of Sasuke reading a message (Found within the atrocity and savagery)

[personal profile] gatescostmoney 2020-03-18 06:32 am (UTC)(link)
The gardens? I didn't think this place had any greenery besides whatever this is.

[ He noticeably perks up. This is some of the best news he has gotten since he has arrived. ]
this_loser: (01 smile hand)

[personal profile] this_loser 2020-03-18 10:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah. New arrival?

[This warrants a proper greeting. He pops to his feet.]

Yeah. There's a botanical garden you can visit. I bet it's really something, if it's getting a boost in growth like everything else here.
gatescostmoney: icon of a smiling Sasuke (Isn't he a good nin?)

[personal profile] gatescostmoney 2020-03-19 11:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Yep. A new arrival to this place and still trying to settle. The plants help immensely. ]

I'll have to visit it. Do you have any pictures of it?

[ Sasuke has figured out these devices keep the pictures they take, and the young man seems to do this as a hobby. ]
this_loser: (00 n talk)

[personal profile] this_loser 2020-03-22 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
[You, sir, know how to ask the right questions.]

I sure do! Tons! Wanna see?

[Of course he does. Prompto's already opening up the right folders and looking for the garden photos.]
gatescostmoney: icon of Sasuke smiling (The young lady over there let's dance)

[personal profile] gatescostmoney 2020-03-23 03:28 am (UTC)(link)
[ There's a gleam in Sasuke's eyes, true interest and mild excitement. In another time and life, Sasuke carried around a camera to snap up many pictures for the school newspaper. ]

Yes. It'd be a treat to see what a master picture taker can do.
this_loser: (04 camera)

[personal profile] this_loser 2020-03-24 05:50 pm (UTC)(link)
I dunno about master...

[But he hands the camera over and points out how to advance to the next image. These are all mostly just flower pictures, though some people or robots may appear as blurry figures in backgrounds.]

More of a hobby.

[A hobby he's already spent most of his life with.]

gatescostmoney: icon of Sasuke reading a message (Found within the atrocity and savagery)

[personal profile] gatescostmoney 2020-03-27 07:40 am (UTC)(link)
[ Perhaps it's best for Prompto not to know that Sasuke tends to call everyone by some title or nickname. Still, as far as Sasuke is concerned, Prompto might as well be a master. He won't claim to know much about art, but the photos and compositions are very nice to look at. ]

I didn't realize it could make things in the picture both blurry and clear at the same time. You're pretty skilled, you know.
this_loser: (01 smirk with hand)

[personal profile] this_loser 2020-03-29 04:21 am (UTC)(link)
[Perhaps. Don't embarrass him right out the door.

That gets a big smile.]


Thanks! Just gotta know what settings to use.

[And he could totally go on and on about settings and lenses and apertures and and and...]
gatescostmoney: icon of Mini Basara Sasuke with a question mark (Sink or swim)

[personal profile] gatescostmoney 2020-04-04 08:23 am (UTC)(link)
[ Sasuke blinks. "Settings?" ]

That's something like adapting a tool to do something else or maybe adjust it to better fit someone's strengths or build.

[ That is mostly a guess, but Sasuke is trying so hard to understand. He's not so careless as to press random buttons without a method to it, but he's beginning to wonder if that's what he has to do. ]

What do you do with the pictures you take? Do you give your device to others so they can see them? This is too small to hang and display in an alcove.
this_loser: (00 n talk)

[personal profile] this_loser 2020-04-08 03:23 am (UTC)(link)
That's... Yeah. I guess that's one way to put it.

[The camera was just a tool. The end result was all in how you used it.]

Normally, I'd print them out. But I don't have a printer, and they don't have a ton of paper here. So for now, I just keep them on memory cards. Um.

[He takes the camera back and powers it down so he can pop open a small side compartment with a little card.]

I have a few of these, and each one can hold quite a few pictures. When they fill up, I need to get more.
gatescostmoney: Sasuke looking concerned (Mayday shouting out loud)

[personal profile] gatescostmoney 2020-04-11 01:02 am (UTC)(link)
...

[ Sasuke looks at the camera, at the tiny little cards, and at the camera again. Just when he thought he was understanding all of this. ]

This... is above my understanding of the technology, but it sounds really useful.

[ He finally admits. ]
this_loser: (00 firelight)

[personal profile] this_loser 2020-04-15 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah. Sorry. [He slides the card back in place with a soft hum.] I can get a little carried away sometimes? I'd be happy to show you how it all works, if you want... or. Or! What do you like to do?
Edited 2020-04-15 21:02 (UTC)
gatescostmoney: icon of Sasuke listing your faults (A row of lined-up stupas are singing)

[personal profile] gatescostmoney 2020-04-16 11:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It's uncomfortable to not know necessary information to understand this world, and Sasuke has suffered through a lot of that feeling. It hasn't exactly humbled him; he's still stubborn about asking for help because discovering information is his job. However... he realizing he's in a tough place either way. ]

It's fine. I'm seeing how far behind I am. It's like those stories of people returning from a spirit world only to find that many years have passed by without them, except I'm the one going to a place further in time instead of returning to one.
this_loser: (00 n talk)

[personal profile] this_loser 2020-04-22 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
That sounds frustrating.

[His own world wasn't as advanced as this one - no VR and food replicators - but the Fleet and many of the worlds they visited were just as if not more ahead technologically. And he just plain loves tech.]

If you have any questions or need any help ever, you can hit me up.
gatescostmoney: icon of Sasuke with his hands behind his head (Oh well let's end our idle gossips)

[personal profile] gatescostmoney 2020-04-23 08:10 am (UTC)(link)
[ Prompto knows what a Cup Noodle is. That's an important technological breakthrough right there. ]

I'd appreciate it. You'd think there'd be some kind training provided. The locals seem to try to provide everything else.

[ Honestly, he could have missed some training. He doesn't fully trust the robotic citizens of Havenwell, and he's been dealing with one heck of a culture shock. ]

But right now, I think learning where this botanical garden is will be good.

[ And maybe from there he can learn more about taking pictures! ]
this_loser: (01 smile hand)

[personal profile] this_loser 2020-05-01 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[Truth.]

You'd think. But the way they toss newcomers out and hope one of us will just lead them off on a tour... [And let's face, that's how it happens at least half the time.] ...I bet they're trying to get us form those hand-holdy relationships right from the get-go.

[With a sweeping bow-like gesture, he smiles and indicates the road ahead.]

Come one. I'll show you.
gatescostmoney: icon of Sasuke listing your faults (A row of lined-up stupas are singing)

[personal profile] gatescostmoney 2020-05-03 07:14 am (UTC)(link)
[ Yep. Sasuke likes Master Picture Taker. He follows along, feeling better than he's not the only one who thinks the locals have some screws loose. ]

Are they serious about the physical contact stuff? I can't see how that's going to save anything.

[ He is both a no-touchy and also a secret cuddler kind of guy. Chalk it up to his problems with being true to his nature. ]
this_loser: (01 smile blk bg)

[personal profile] this_loser 2020-05-04 12:09 am (UTC)(link)
Sure are! They really encourage it. And you get rewarded for doing it, so at least there's incentive, even if you're not buying the whole helping the gods part.

[He doesn't know how it works. ~Magic~.]

gatescostmoney: icon of MMD Sasuke with a nervous smile (A life full of misunderstanding)

[personal profile] gatescostmoney 2020-05-04 08:32 pm (UTC)(link)
So far I've done nothing, and they seem to be treating me like I'm a lord.

[ Sasuke... isn't used to actually being recognized for his hard work, so getting recognized while doing nothing is just plain weird. He also doesn't realize the normal treatment is actually not the reward Prompto is talking about. ]
this_loser: (00 neutral ac garb)

[personal profile] this_loser 2020-05-06 11:20 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm sure you've done something, even if it feels like nothing. They're pretty generous here.

[That, and he's sure it'd be a hard sell on the hugs and affection if they weren't kind and generous hosts.]

You've got yourself a place to stay, right? I mean, they just hand you free housing. That's pretty nice.
gatescostmoney: Sasuke smiling with hands behind his head (A tone that'll drown the love we found)

[personal profile] gatescostmoney 2020-05-07 01:23 am (UTC)(link)
[ He thinks to that little girl, scared and trembling underneath the table. Sasuke had helped her forget about the quakes for a little while and even made an ally. She had seemed really capable and had a mindset more similar to his than many others he's met. But, she disappeared soon after. He hopes she's all right.

So, Sasuke shrugs.
]

That's the least they could do, especially with the lack of trees they had before.
this_loser: (00 neutral ac garb)

[personal profile] this_loser 2020-05-10 01:32 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah.

[Hold up.]

Um. Well. Um. Were you going to live in a tree?
gatescostmoney: icon of Sasuke sitting in a tree from the front (My belly will be empty)

[personal profile] gatescostmoney 2020-05-10 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
I've done it enough times before. There isn't always a decent place to stay when you're on the move.

[ A little discomfort is better than getting caught. ]