♥ May (Ealom) Event Log

[hugtopiamods]

May (Ealom) Event Log
Ainea's power begins to wane as the last of her months begins, but that doesn't mean it's completely gone yet! With all the effort everyone has put in to clearing and reclaiming the new parts of the city, Ainea and the rest of the gods want to show you the fruits of your labors. A fragrant and gentle breeze springs up through the city, winding through its streets. It's strongest near Ainea's temple, but the power seems to flow from the entire city as it sweeps outward through the new areas. As soon as the wind reaches the outskirts of Old Havenwell, it becomes visible - a shimmering semi-opaque swirl of mixed colors that curls along the ruins and streets. Wherever it goes, greenery and life follows, the atmosphere lifting and the city gleaming in its wake. Small, tentative flowers bloom along the path of the wind until it brunts up against the barrier wall, bursting into a shower of sparkles.

Congratulations, Havenwellians and off-worlders alike! You've cleansed the city!

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❥ PROMPT I: It's All About the May-bies

That beautiful breeze brings with it a strange magic as well. When it sweeps through the city, it touches everyone - flesh or metal-bodied alike - giving people a contented, youthful feeling. That feeling eventually subsides, but in its place is a little bit of magic gone haywire. Throughout the month, characters can experience a little bit of rejuvenation themselves as they suddenly find themselves de-aging abruptly. Whether they retain their memories of their adult lives or revert entirely to their previous selves at that age is up to player discretion. Curiously, no one becomes so young that they would be considered younger than a 6 year old human for their species. Characters can either know where they are in Havenwell or be completely surprised by this strange city full of robots and have no idea what they're supposed to do! Returning to their original age is quite simple though - they can either wait until the power snaps them back, or take the initiative and hug it out to see if it helps (it does, surprise!). If characters wait, they might find that it takes a while before the magic can remember what age they were supposed to be. You might snap from 17 to 29, then back to 12 and suddenly to 59 until you finally settle at your regular age.

Not everyone is affected alike, however. Some may find that they never age one way or another, and some may find they age up instead of down. For those who age up, only their physical appearance is affected and they will not gain canon knowledge of their futures. Sure might feel weird for that 12 year old to suddenly become a 25 year old though! But at least you got to skip the horror of puberty. To return to their original age, they just have to do the same as the others - wait until the power snaps them back (hopefully to the right age) or go find someone to hug these growing pains out with.

Please note, for this prompt you are welcome to use journals other than the ones currently registered to the comms, HOWEVER we ask that you post the journal names you intend to use to the Alternate Account thread on the plotting post. This is so we can more easily track comments for AC and AC Rewards at the end of the month. Thanks in advance!

❥ PROMPT II: There Must be Something in the Air

It appears that the offworlders aren't the only ones affected by the sudden influx of youthfulness. During the month, the city council puts out a call for help from those who are able to give it. The Havenwell Zoo and Animal Conservatory has had an unexpected surge of new baby animals born at the beginning of the month. There's so many that they can't keep them all at the zoo's nursery so they need your help! Characters can volunteer and arrive at the zoo to pick up a cuddly baby to take home with them to keep for the remainder of the month. They will be required to give it back once Ealom ends, however, since the natives will (hopefully) be finished with their new habitat expansions by then. As with any baby, characters will need to keep their little fluffy one close and tend to its needs - which may include having two parents. You and a friend (or frenemy, we aren't judging) will need to help this little one grow up enough that it can return to its conservatory home! The zoo will provide the basics that you'll need to keep these babies alive and well. The animals available are:

• Clackoos: These rainbow colored chicks resemble chickens, except that the babies are almost a foot tall and when they "chirp" it sounds more like the clacking of wood. They're mostly flightless, but they do enjoy trying to fly and can get a few feet off the ground or glide when they get older. At this stage, they're testing their wings out and are more likely to fall off of high places and bump into people and walls in a manner more akin to flailing falling than actual flight. Keep them warm at night and make sure they eat a variety of seeds, simulated insect mealworms, or fruits.
  
• Sinory Lizard: These feathery lizards look a little like a cross between an iguana and a komodo dragon, being almost 2 feet in length from snout to the tip of their tail. They come in a variety of colors like striped blue and green, yellow and pink, silver and black, etc. They're most notable for the downy feathers on their legs and along their backs. They make a rumbling sound if you pet the down on their back. These lizards are known for their sluggish nature when it's anything less than hot hot hot, so they tend to slither away quickly to seek sources of heat like sunny spots, people, or stoves. You might want to keep them away from stoves. They enjoy eating the simulated meats or kibble provided by the zookeepers, but will also steal whatever food is on the table if it's not guarded.
  
• Lohpeh: This large pink creature resembles a rabbit with long thin ears and powerful hind legs, except that it also sports brown antlers that sprout light blue leaves and pretty yellow flowers. They're about half a foot tall not including the antlers and pink like bubblegum. They eat mostly grasses and vegetables, and will happily munch on anything that even slightly resembles their preferred food - so hair, clothing, anything flowing. Their teeth are pretty sharp though, so be careful of the accidental nip here and there. They don't like to be alone, so they'll follow the largest group of people they can find, chasing after them to rub their antlers against their legs. Apparently it's to mark them as family.
  
• Nirofu: A small black and white giraffe-like creature with gangly legs, a long neck and two little stubs on the top of their heads that look like they're meant to grow into something much longer. As a baby, the creature is extremely awkward looking as it's trying to grow into its long limbs and neck and they vary in height from runts who are barely over 2 feet tall to ones that are nearly 4 foot in height. They like to swing their heads and bash them into things as a form of play and once they start running, it's hard to get them to stop. They're extremely playful, but the zookeepers still haven't pinned down exactly what they like to eat. Feed them a variety of raw foods from meat to vegetables and these nirofu seem to gobble everything down.

Please choose only one animal to foster!

❥ PROMPT III: A Bigger, Better Nursery

Remember when the city council said they'd be expanding the zoo? Well, they're going to need all the hands they can get and have asked people willing to help to do so. This job will be paid, of course, with a healthy dose of Dora into your accounts if you don't mind a little bit (or a lot of) physical labor. The habitats for the creatures in the zoo need to be expanded, new paddocks built and populated with vegetation, water, and play areas. The simulated vegetation like trees, grass that feels real but is very much fake, simulated moss and bushes need to be arranged and planted. Water areas need to be cleaned and then filled. The fake wood play areas with ropes and ladders, slides and swings need to be assembled and secured within the enclosures. There's no lack of things to do! For the more construction minded, they can help pour foundations and lay the mortar and stone for building walls in the new enclosures, or help add the glass or build fences to separate the soon-to-be curious zoo-goers from the animals that need protecting. Grab a friend, roll up your sleeves, get to work and earn some Dora!

❥ PROMPT IV: I Can Show You the City

With all the hustle of last month, the VR cafes were rather sparse and this month the owners of those cafes want to make up for the lost time and profit! This month they're offering a new experience that any and all may enjoy. The cafes' decor have been updated to be painted a light sky blue inside with soft diffuse light that resembles sunlight. On the ceilings and walls are holoprojections of very realistic clouds that slide along like they do outside. Hook up into the VR sets and join others in an extremely realistic and detailed flying tour of Havenwell.

Ever wonder what the city looked like from above? Well, wonder no longer! Once you're loaded up in the game, you'll find yourself floating gently in the sky high above the city. There are others here, too, holding hands or linking arms as they zip about, free as birds. You, however? Well...you can't do much more than float or sink closer to the ground! It seems you need to find a partner and keep in contact with them in order to control your flight, so you better hurry before you end up on the ground like some regular ol' walking Joe. Thankfully, everyone is being loaded into the same game experience, so it shouldn't be hard to find a partner!

If you want a little excitement in your game, feel free to load the "Balloon Challenge" mini-game and compete against other teams to catch the most balloons. Once the game starts, you have 2 minutes to maneuver with your partner to fly through virtual obstacles and collect brightly colored balloons. Catch them by the string and hold on because the more balloons you and your partner collect, the higher your score. If you're crowned that Balloon Challenge champion by beating out all the other teams, you can collect a little balloon of your own when you leave the VR cafe. The balloon floats happily along on a little string and never loses its air, no matter how long you keep it.

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This event will run from May 14th to 31st. 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.

Comments

Wildcard - precious child

[firstbump]

Ardbert and Era have been working on some of Era's worst fears: namely, that of her waking up alone like she did with Hades. Which means they're finally sleepin in the same bed. He's hugging the stuffed Seto she made him from the bottom of Hades's robe she trimmed to fit her. It's the only way they've found that he doesn't end up hugging Era instead, which she's not ready for yet.

He's snoring softly, completely oblivious to the change of the weight beside him.

[ancestor]

It is comfortable and warm, like when she has dreams of Bàba. Kiyo knows she isn't dreaming, even if it feels like a dream come true, and that knowledge quickly dispels her of whatever drowsiness still lingered.

The man is near enough that she can feel how warm he is even from a distance, like the hearth in her bedroom filled with fire. She moves away slowly and carefully, doing her best not to wake the stranger up, lest he catch her before she can escape.

Kiyo realizes her horns and tail are uncovered once she's slipped out of the bed, hurrying to the door on clumsy tip-toes she hopes are quieter than his snores. Her first priority is to get away and home, but she also needs to cover herself up. After all, it will be no good getting away if everyone can see at a glance how awful a girl she is.

[firstbump]

Something is wrong.

As deep as Ardbert tends to sleep, his Warrior instincts sometimes manage to override it entirely. The longer he stays in this city, the more he's had a chance to practice sensing aether better. Era's aether changes and then rapidly begins to move away, and this is enough to set off red flags in the back of his mind.

Not that he's aware of what woke him. He yawns and rubs his eyes, reaching out to sense where Era is when she's not beside him. A moment later, his brows knit in confusion, and in a moment after that, his eyes go wide. Now all of his mind is on the same page.

He gets out of bed quickly but not in a panic, going into the hall and... seeing the front door open. They have an amaro chick. She would never leave the door open. Ardbert's more confused than worried until he looks out the door and sees a small child with Era's hair, horns, and tail going around the bend of the street in a hurry.

"Ah, shite," Ardbert realizes something weird has gone on, and Era's probably a child because this place's weird magic is acting up again.

Most men would probably burst into a run after the child when they're running into a city. But Ardbert knows this city is safe, and he knows running after her will scare her more. The Warrior also knows they have a baby amaro that can't be left alone.

Catching up with her won't be too difficult with him having long, fit legs and the ability to sense aether. But he still rushes back into the room and quickly but gently shakes the amaro awake. Hythlo lets out a confused gweh as Ardbert scoops him up in his arms and jogs out the door.

He holds Hythlo's head near the handle and the amaro grabs it in his mouth, closing it. Ardbert then goes down the stairs and breaks into a run down the street and a bit further until he can feel Era's aether not too far ahead. The Warrior changes to a brisk walk, not wanting to make this little girl think he's chasing her in a threatening manner.

[ancestor]

She couldn't find anything to hide her horns or her scales, leaving her feeling frightfully exposed as she hurries out the door. She tries to use her hair to cover her horns, but she's not very coordinated, nor athletic, nor used to the feel of anything beneath her feet that is not stone, wood, tile, or rug.

Kiyo trips, stumbling hard enough to skin her knees even through the nightgown she wears. It hurts. It stings. She wants to cry, but good girls don't cry—good girls stay quiet and get back up. Kiyo wants to be good more than she wants to cry. She gets back up and continues searching for someplace to hide. She runs and runs until finally she finds what she thinks is called a 'bush'. The branches scratch her face as she crawls under it, quickly settling inside and doing her best to not breathe so loud or fast.

If nobody sees her and nobody hears her then nobody can find her. And if nobody finds her, then they can't hurt her family.

[firstbump]

He can sense when she's stopped moving. Era's aether hasn't changed from its initial change, which means she's hiding. That's something Ardbert can deal with.

Ardbert walks by her hiding spot and can feel her starting to be further away from him once he passes (and Hythlo's head turns towards her). Good. She's staying in place. He crouches and puts Hythlo down once he's a distance away, patting him on the head. The amaro continues to look as confused as he has before, letting out a gentle gweh.

"Go find your mama," Ardbert smiles to him sweetly, and Hythlo stares at him a moment moment more, waiting until he gets another pet before going around to look for her.

It's easy enough when you can see souls and are the same height as where the little girl is hiding. He doesn't for the life of him understand why mama is so small or why her soul is weaker. It's weird, but that doesn't stop him from sniffing at the bush or wagging his tail and ears as he gweehs at her.

[ancestor]

Kiyo presses her hands firmly over her mouth, muting the sound of her breathing and the frightened noise that rises in her throat. All she can see is a dark shape, and all she can hear is the creature's loud sniffing and the odd sound it makes.

She scrambles a bit further back as quickly and quietly as she can, hoping to put distance between her and whatever it is that's found her.

[firstbump]

Oh, no. That didn't work as Ardbert had hoped. Children always loved cute animals, but this one is so scared she can't even see how cute Hythlo is. He creases his forehead and walks over slowly, making sure that his eyes are focused on the amaro as he crouches down to slowly pick Hythlo up.

Which is harder than it used to be as the quickly growing amaro wiggles, gwehing in protest, because he's wanting to see why momma is hiding in the bush. "Oy, Hythlo!"

There's a chance for wacky hijinks here, but Ardbert knows the little girl is too scared for those to work. If a baby animal doesn't work, then a funny situation certainly won't. He holds Hythlo a little more firmly with a serious face, and the amaro understands that he needs to hold still and listen.

"So who do we have in the bush?" Ardbert asks gently, almost like he's addressing the amaro in his arms; he drops his head down to plant a kiss on Hythlo's forehead.

[ancestor]

Had she not hidden well enough? The man isn't going away, and Kiyo doesn't know what to do.

"Nobody," she says eventually, voice quiet and quivering as badly as the rest of her. "Go away, please."

[firstbump]

"Hello Nobody, I'm Ardbert." He keeps his voice gentle, sitting down on the ground and putting Hythlo down so he can pet the amaro with both hands; the little one is confused, but is obviously loving the attention. "But I'm afraid I can't go away right now... I'm supposed to be taking care of you."

[ancestor]

"Grandmother and Grandfather take care of me," Kiyo states, growing worried. Why would this 'Ardbert' make such a claim? Why would anyone else be supposed to take care of her?

"—Please, don't kill them. They're not heretics."

[firstbump]

"... I'm not going to kill anyone; I promise you that." Ardbert replies back after a long silence, his expression growing sorrowful that a child has to be afraid of such a thing. "This place has a strange magic that takes us from our homes and those we love. None of my family is here, either."

[ancestor]

"...Then they were already killed."

The rest of what he says matters little to her—Grandmother and Grandfather didn't love her, but they took care of her. She was their bastard Dragonspawn, and when she was big she would repay them.

[firstbump]

"No!" Ardbert startles and looks up at her, catches himself, and breathes for a moment to calm. "If you saw them alive last, then they're alive. Time doesn't move there from the moment you came here. Your grandparents are alive, and they're safe."

Hythlo looks up at him with worry, making a noise of complaint as he stops petting.

[ancestor]

"If I've been found," she says, not understanding. "Then their heads'll be chopped off. Then mine, too."

[firstbump]

Ardbert closes his eyes and tries with all his might to fight back the surge of anger at that fear. No one should ever have to be so afraid. She's terrified, and from the way she says it, she understands quite clearly what she's been told.

"The only heads that will roll is anyone's that attempts to remove yours or your grandparents'," Ardbert growls, his anger firmly in his control. "Anyone that attempts to kill children for any reason is better off dead."

[ancestor]

"I'm bastard Dragonspawn, ser."

[firstbump]

A blink, a pause, and then even angrier, his mind surging as he puts together pieces from what he's learned from Era, Urianger, and being on the Source. "You're an Au Ra. There isn't a lick of dragon blood in you. What in the hells is wrong with Ishgard? You're Auri. A little girl that deserves to be treated like any other. If anyone's a bastard, it's them, not you. The world of evil belongs to adults, not children."

[ancestor]

"No. I—I'm Dravanian. It's why my real family is dead," she insists. This is what she's been told for as long as she can remember, so of course it is the truth of things. "It's why I have to be a good girl and follow the rules."

[firstbump]

Why my real family is dead.

Ardbert stops cold with his impassioned response, the color draining from his face. Her family, dead? Murdered by Ishgard's war against the dragons, no doubt.

His voice is quiet, pained, and he reaches out to her with one hand, wrapping the other arm gently around Hythlo, who's unusually quiet. "... You're Auri, but the only thing that matters where you're from is what the people with the swords and axes and arrows think. A good friend of mine told me about the Au Ra."

Children like stories; Ardbert had paid close attention to these in case it gave him an edge against the Source's Warrior of Light, and it's ironic how he uses that knowledge now. "He said they live either on a steppe, a place of malms and malms of grass, or in the deep valleys on the bottoms of the mountains. Both hail from the Far Eastern continent of Othard. The place has been heavily scarred by war, and many refuges fled to Eorzea, including your family."

He pauses, then smiles with moist eyes. "Au Ra aren't common, and Ishgard has isolated itself from all of its neighbors. They don't know what Au Ra look like, being a 'strange' and foreign race. All Ishgard knows and remembers is fear and war. Your grandparents couldn't know the truth."

Ardbert gestures with his outstretched palm, bidding her to at least consider taking it. "But I know the truth. Right now, you're just a scared little girl like any other scared little girl would be in a really strange place that you don't understand with a strange man telling you things that don't make a bit of sense."

[ancestor]

She is quiet, listening to the strange man speak. He doesn't seem like he's lying, but what he says is too much. It's too different from what she's been told all this time.

"I don't understand why you care, ser."

RIGHT THREAD THIS TIME LMFAO

[firstbump]

Ardbert smile grows, warm buffeting the sorrow as he holds out that hand to her, not moving any closer. "Because you're a good girl, and good girls deserve to know the truth. Also breakfast. I can make us some toast, and some mean scrambled eggs."

Mind you, those are the only eggs he can make, but they're still more than he could do even a few weeks ago.

A+

[ancestor]

Kiyo remains silent for a while longer after his proclamation, staring at his proffered hand. She makes no further attempt to move away from Ardbert, but she is still scared despite the strange instinct she has to believe him.

Eventually she speaks again:

"...May I use the chamber pot, ser?"

shhhh

[firstbump]

He snorts at the question, unable to help himself; Era always did have to pee first thing in the morning. "Aye, you can. Let's go back to the house, and I'll show you where it is."

Well that lightened the mood a bit. It's going to take Ardbert a bit of time to recover from the painful revelations, but... she's most definitely a child.

[ancestor]

Once again she's faced with the dilemma of being out in the open, horns uncovered for the world to see. She hesitates a few moments longer, but she really does need to pee...

Reluctantly, and with no small amount of hesitation, Kiyo reaches out her hand and wraps her fingers loosely around one of his.

[firstbump]

The smallness of her hand holding onto Ardbert's finger just melts away the anguish. Gods, he forgot how much he loved children. Hythlo wiggles in excitement, his ears going back up, and quite clearly agrees with Ardbert being happy about this turn of events.

"Don't worry; people won't care about what you look like here." Ardbert reassures her gently. "Do you need me to carry you so we can get home faster, or do you have enough time to walk?"