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

[jinzhong]

Jackie was minding his own business when he saw a girl crying. Though he'd never really met her, he recognized her. Oh, jeez, he wasn't sure what to do - he never liked it when girls cried, especially not kids. Least he could do would be to see what was up.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked, walking up to her.

[unetrustworthy]

Still slightly overwhelmed, Midii actually jumped when a voice called out to her. An unfamiliar voice, sure, but it wasn't as if he had snuck up on her. She simply hadn't been paying attention.

"Huh?" A hand came up to wipe at her eyes, as if trying to hide the tears trailing down her cheeks. "Y-yeah. I'm alright. It's nothing."

[jinzhong]

"You sure? 'Cause it kinda looks like something," Jackie said, smiling at her.

"You wanna talk about it? Or, uh, I dunno, you want some tea? Or...somethin'?"

[unetrustworthy]

Her stomach silently rumbled, and it was then Midii realized she hadn't...actually eaten since breakfast. Too many errands to run.

"Tea would be perfect, thank you." Depending upon wherever they stopped at, she might even be able to order a sandwich. "And it's just...I received a message from someone I thought I'd lost."

[jinzhong]

"C'mon, there's a pretty good shop this way." And one where his Snake badge bought him due respect, even if his status as Foreigner made some of the staff and patrons eye him with distrust.

"Oh yeah? Like, someone who used to be here and then disappeared?" He was interested now, especially since there seemed to be no way to contact those who'd left.

[unetrustworthy]

"More like somebody who used to be here until I disappeared." To the realm of Dreaming, specifically.

Finger-combing through her long, blonde locks--Midii was never one for fashion (she'd never had the chance to learn any), but she did try to keep herself somewhat presentable for the general public--she pulled her pack a bit higher on her shoulder and turned fully to face the young man. The badge he wore didn't escape her notice, though she only eyed it silently and didn't ask any questions aloud.

"Her name is Riva. I helped to raise her since before she hatched from her egg."

[jinzhong]

Jackie was about to ask when she turned to him and mentioned the hatchling Riva, and he stumbled backwards in surprise, looking very taken aback.

"You heard from your hatchling?" he asked, clearly shocked. "Did she, did she, um, did she do the telepathy thing? How did you hear from her? Did she say anything about the others, like Rio'era?"

[unetrustworthy]

Her eyes widened ever so slightly. Then he was a Turtle parent as well. She recognized the name. Rio'era. Not one of Riva's closer siblings, but then, all of the surviving hatchlings had a special bond in some way.

"It was a message. They've been here. They met the locals. But I know it was her--the person who spoke to me said things that only Riva would know about."

[jinzhong]

Jackie sagged in relief. "Oh my God." He'd been worried, after the long time spent with no contact with the hatchlings other than the very weak psychic link. And for a moment, he wondered if Rio'era would be disappointed in him for going back to his old criminal ways.

"That's so good to hear. Did they mention where they were going?"

[unetrustworthy]

A sentiment Midii could actually empathize with; she'd been worried as well. Worried for Riva and the others' well-being. Worried they would be mad at everyone for leaving.

(Riva was right; she was going to end up with premature wrinkles at this rate.)

"No. But I think that was on purpose. She said they couldn't come back until they finished something important. I think she knows we'd all go looking for them the moment we found out where they were."

[jinzhong]

"She'd be right," Jackie said, and laughed a little, wiping at his eyes. He'd been so worried about little Rio'era...though, probably not so little, these days. He hadn't seen the turtle in more than a year.

"Did she say how big they'd gotten? Man, I miss them!"

[unetrustworthy]

"...no, she didn't say. I didn't think to ask. But I could only imagine."

The last time she'd seen Riva, the not-so-little Turtle could no longer fit inside their former residence.

[jinzhong]

"Yeah, wow," he said, and shook his head. They had to be enormous by now!

"Come on, let's get that tea."

[unetrustworthy]

She nodded her agreement. Now, even more than before, tea was needed.

Midii took a single, deep breath, and fell into quiet step beside him. Very quiet. Even at fourteen, she still managed to make very little sound when she walked. Old habits, combined with her small frame. She'd grown some since her arrival--there was a noticeable difference between Midii at fourteen, and Midii at eleven--but remained small for her age.

"You should ask." She spoke up after a moment. "Someone must have heard from Rio'era around here, too."

[jinzhong]

And that made Jackie stop walking for just a moment, thinking. Maybe Rio'era wasn't mad at him. He hadn't meant to be away so long, and he missed the tyke.

"You think?" he asked, trying to temper the excitement and fear in his voice. "I mean, like...you think they all left messages with these Erol'a types?"

[unetrustworthy]

"I think there's a very good chance they all stuck together. Safety in numbers. And if one of them was here, the others couldn't have been too far behind."

[jinzhong]

Jackie nodded, a smile threatening to break out across his face. "I hope I get one from Rio'era soon. Man...it's been ages." And longer for the turtles.

They made their way into the tea shop and got a table. "I'm buying. Think of it as, uh, a thank-you for the good news." Then he stopped, biting his nail. "Just realized, I don't...actually know your name. I'm Jackie."

[unetrustworthy]

"Midii. I'm Midii Une."

She waited patiently until one of the servers brought them over a menu. Despite Jackie's generous offer to pay--one she would hardly protest (never let it be said Midii turned down the opportunity for Free Food)--she still had every intention of ordering something simple. To go with the fruit-flavored tea she asked for.

[jinzhong]

"Well, good to meet ya," Jackie said, and ordered steamed buns to go with his own jasmine-like tea, because they reminded him of home.

"...how old are you?" he asked, realizing that she might be the youngest Foreigner around.

[unetrustworthy]

He was close; at one point, she had been the youngest. But people came and people went, and she remained long enough to age into a teenager.

"Fourteen. About." She looked almost apologetic about being so uncertain of her own age. "It's....been hard to keep track the last couple of years. Time was different here than where I came from. And we spent so much time in the Dream world...but I think it's been long enough that I should be fifteen by next November."

[jinzhong]

Jackie looked at her with something approaching sympathy in his expression. She was too young to have been dragged into a war like the one they'd fought with Malicant.

"And...you're okay here? Do you have anyone from back home lookin' after you?"

It had been hard enough for him to be here on his own, and hard enough growing up even with his gang friends to fall back on. Being so young and here alone sounded horrifying.

[unetrustworthy]

"No. I don't."

It wasn't a lie. She had family back home, yes, but none of them would have been actively looking for her. At least, they shouldn't have been. Papa was too sick, and she'd explicitly told the boys to remain at home for as long as possible. (Then again, it wasn't as if the Twins had a history of listening to her every word.)

"Keelai has always been nicer than the world I came from. I have food and shelter and even people who've...cared about me." Her mind briefly flashed through a series of faces. Gone, but not forgotten. "And I'm safer here."

[jinzhong]

Jackie looked a little sad, at that. No way he could look after her - hell, he could barely look after himself - but he could at least look after her.

"If anyone gives you trouble, just mention my name to a Snake. Jackie Ma." Not like he had all that much clout, but it was known he had Yunxu's ear.

[unetrustworthy]

She glanced up at him, smiling faintly.

"Thank you." It was a kind offer. "But...I don't make it a habit of talking to the Snakes. Much." (Only if she had a reason to.)

[jinzhong]

"Heh, I don't blame you," he said with a smile. "Still. Figured I'd offer, you know?"

The kedan brought their order, and Jackie picked up the teacup, just holding it in his hands a moment before drinking it.