EVENT | LANDFALL | ZESHORA

[ironwood]

Characters: ALL!
Date: June 17th to July 8th
Location: Zeshora
Situation: Tu Vishan has washed up near the cities of Atoce and Uessaire.
Warnings/Rating: Add warnings as needed.



The cities of Zeshora were renowned across all of Konryu as works of art, and even with the upheaval which sank and destroyed many of them centuries prior, that distinction remains evident. The Erol'a will recount, if asked, a terrible series of earthquakes and resultant tsunamis that rolled over Zeshora, and how great chunks of the continent simply dropped away. Zeshora was one of the oldest continents, and its landmasses upon the backs of long-dead Great Turtles had been so constant, that no one had even thought it possible such a thing could have happened.

Testament to the Erol'a's resilience however, they adapted and reclaimed the cities that had fallen to, or just below, sea level. Arches, pillars and soaring ceilings dominate the architecture in both cities, and every surface is painstakingly decorated with tiny inlaid shells and coral, turning every hall and room into a mosaic of colour. It's not uncommon for Erol'a dwellings to have multiple stories, and likewise it's not unlikely to have at least a few of those levels under sea level. So it's entirely possible to have one's upstairs be above water, and one's downstairs be below the water! Imagine having to take a swim to get a midnight snack. Of course, the Erol'a don't find that strange at all. Likewise, it's perfectly normal to them to walk down the hallways of their homes in ankle, knee or waist-deep water, something that the Foreigners and even some kedan might take some getting used to. The water temperature during the day is a delightful 80℉/26℃, and about ten degrees cooler throughout the night, so it's pleasant for nearly everyone.

---

LINKS
Atoce - City of Pearls | Uessaire - City of Lilies | Ollesse - The Coral Ruins | Secessi - The Floating Reefs | Hatchling Messages
Astegune | Landfall Surprise | Landfall Update - Jun 23 | OOC Post

OOC
Please direct questions to the OOC post! You can either use the areas described under header, or create your own -- don't feel you have to be limited to threading only in the locations mentioned in the starters! Just don't forget to label your top-levels with specific locations (eg the Height or the Deep).

ACTIVITY CHECK NOTE: Due to the late-month timing of this landfall, threads from this log can be counted toward either June or July AC. Just don't use the same comment thread for both and you'll be fine!

Comments

a courtyard; ota; June 19 or so

[inkulcation]

China's investigating the cities mostly for the form of the thing, and because it is sensible to know one's surroundings, even if she doesn't have much desire to stay in them long. It's simply more trouble than it's worth, dealing with the locals, even if she can magic her way out of the more inconvenient things. So she keeps to the courtyards mostly, the wide open lilypads where she can watch from the outskirts.

When approached by the natives, no matter whether Crests or Kelps, she'll mostly attempt to disengage or shift away with as little conversation as possible, though on a few rare instances she can be found demonstrating a simple sigil that, when complete, gives off a clear light. This is always accompanied by some kind of exchange, informational or material -- one does not get something for nothing -- and it's more than possible that China's apartment is going to acquire some number of sea wisps.

Anyone who actually knows her may register that she looks a tiny bit irritated even when not being spoken to, and it says something that it's actually visible in her expression.

[ooc; if you haven't threaded with China before but want to, obligatory heads up about that thing she does.]

[redlightgreenlight]

"Excuse me, miss?"

A younger Erol'a approached China from behind after she had finished exchanging information with a few others. His eyes were wide with wonder as China's magic took affect and it took him a few moments to find the words he was looking for.

"Are you the foreigner called Valdis?"

[inkulcation]

This earned a brief pause from China, as she blinked at the Erol'a. "Goodness, no," she said in a moment, and she laughed. "She's much shorter."

She sized the young man up, judged him under eighteen, and, a little grudgingly, inclined her head in a picture of respect. Even with her magic, she was trying not to cause too much of a disruption. "But I can certainly see that any message you have gets to her," she added, eyes wide and earnest.

[redlightgreenlight]

The boy frowned slightly, "He said the prettiest foreigner..." the boy trailed off, confused, "I haven't seen anyone prettier than you, miss. But, if you aren't Valdis, then I really shouldn't give you the message. It was very specific..." He sounded somewhat regretful.

[inkulcation]

China considered her options, considered tweaking the chaos enthusiast, and, subsequently, laid it on thick, utterly shameless.

"That's very kind of you to say," she said, still earnest. "But I do happen to know Miss Valdis, and I'd be more than happy to pass on the message-- you shouldn't have to trouble yourself any further for us." And she pushed, with her magic, just a little.

[redlightgreenlight]

The boy visibly brightens, but perhaps not for the reason that China expects.

"If you know Miss Valdis," he said happily, "Then maybe you could call her on that thing?" he pointed to her handset, "I've seen you foreigners use them to talk to people not nearby." He seemed to be quite pleased with this solution.

"There's no need to call me," Valdis said, walking up, a lovely smile on her face. "Hello, China."

[inkulcation]

"Ah," China said, and managed to sound pleased about it despite the fact that she could not now hold whatever it was over Valdis' head. "Well, that solves that problem, doesn't it? How convenient." She smiled at Valdis, a charming little thing with carefully hidden insincerity. "Shall I leave you to your rendezvous? This seems like... private business."

Which was not to say that she didn't want to know, naturally, but there was only so much she was willing to put up with in one day.

[redlightgreenlight]

The boy looked between the two of them, a sort of awe on his face, as if he couldn't quite believe that they could both be so beautiful. Although, Valdis had no doubt that China would win the contest, she only did so by cheating. Valdis smiled back at China, recalling their conversation over the network and the amusement returned, causing her smile to light up her eyes.

"Don't leave on my account," she replied, "Anything that needs to be said can be said in front of you, we are both foreigners after all."

[inkulcation]

It wasn't cheating, per se. China was simply utilizing all of her natural resources. One of those happened to be a certain gift with sigils, that was all.

"Goodness, that is gracious of you." And also utter nonsense, but if Valdis wanted to perpetuate the illusion they were all happy families and give China access to information meant solely for her, well, China wasn't going to try to talk her out of it. "Very well, my dear Valdis, I'll stay."

[redlightgreenlight]

It was only after the fact that Valdis realized that she didn't even know why the Erol'a child wished to speak with her and perhaps she shouldn't have invited China to stay without that information. But it was too late now, and Valdis simply smiled at the crest.

"Why did you wish to find me?" she asked politely.

The boy finally regained his composure, "I have a message for you from Bobby."

Valdis' heart leaped as he told her that the hatchlings had been here and she almost completely forgot about China's presence.

"What did he say?" She asked.

"He said that he misses you and that he was sorry about Dante, but he knows that you are strong enough to keep going. For a short time he was afraid that you were going to disappear, but he is very happy that you didn't. " the crest said. "He can't wait to see you again, but he has to do something first...That's it."

She sent her love through the very faint connection between her and her hatchling, hoping that it would reach him. "Thank you," she told the crest, inclining her head.

[inkulcation]

China styled her face in an expression of polite attentiveness, remaining quiet through the little conversation. Without context very little of the exchange meant a great deal to her, except in the clear implication that Valdis lost someone she cared about, but China made note of it all anyway. She never knew what might become useful later.

She could guess 'Bobby' was one of the hatchlings she'd heard about, at least, though she did hate guesswork.

"I feel we've grown closer," China said once the Crest had departed, sounding perhaps a little less sincere in her earnestness than she had before.

[redlightgreenlight]

Yes, this was exactly the thing that she didn't particularly like China Sorrows hearing about, but it was too late now.

"Indeed," she said, not smiling anymore. China was almost as insincere as they came, so she wasn't exactly bothered by the woman's indifference. What she was bothered by was the fact that the woman now knew Dante's name and that something had happened to him. It was a weakness she didn't want any potential enemy knowing.

[inkulcation]

She did give Valdis an out, in all fairness. China's polite little smile didn't waver, despite Valdis' evident drop in demeanour. "Well, we are both Foreigners, after all," she said lightly, reminding Valdis of her own words. "Of course we must stick together. Especially in such a place as this."

Of course neither of them would be forgetting that China had learned something Valdis would rather she hadn't, but it was the form of the thing.

"Shall we walk?" China offered, still all polite almost-sincerity.