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.

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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

[ruinsprofessor]

"A cuff," she agrees, nodding thoughtfully. "Yes, that would likely work."

She lifts the front tail of her coat, wipes the glasses off carefully before handing them back, ignoring the dark splotch it creates. Water evaporates, after all; in such small quantities, it won't take too long. "Will it be easier, if I find something already in the right approximate shape?" she asks curiously.

As she's doing so, she turns on the spot, looking for the path by which she arrived here, staunchly ignoring the water itself. When she has it she glances back toward Gene, indicates the direction with a question in her expression.

[wrathfulkhan]

"That might make it easier," he says, taking the glasses back. Gene's ready to be away from the water himself - he doesn't blame her for not liking it, after what just happened. Any other reason for being wary of the water is utterly unknown to him.

"I think we want to go back this way," he says, confirming the direction Raine is indicating.

[ruinsprofessor]

It makes sense-- less manipulation to be done, only enough to set the gem in the first place. Raine makes a note to visit the jewelers on the turtle when she can, preferably sooner rather than later. And she knows where to find Gene, too; there's no excuse to delay. "I'll do that, then," she says, and heads in the direction they seem to be agreeing on. "Let's go. I'll be happier when we're back on the turtle."

[wrathfulkhan]

"Me, too," Gene says, perhaps agreeing a little more vehemently than he means to. Atoce is a weird place - it looks beautiful, but for all its charm, he does not like it. And he knows exactly why, too, even if he's not comfortable admitting it.

"I don't think this is my favorite vacation spot," he admits once they're on their way.

[ruinsprofessor]

Raine laughs at that, though it's a startled bark of a thing rather than genuine mirth. "No," she agrees. "Frankly, the ruins are the only thing that recommend it." She's not going into the details of the water, or the pieces of Tethe'alla it reminds her of. She will settle for getting back to Keeliai in a timely fashion, and probably having some tea. Her hands are shaking a little only now, delayed reaction to everything.

[wrathfulkhan]

"I haven't seen them yet," he admits, trying to keep the conversation light. "You think they're worth a trip?"

At least someone else seems to have as much distaste for this place as he does.

[ruinsprofessor]

"I've only seen some," Raine admits in turn. "Many of them are irretrievably below water. However, the ones that are currently accessible are magnificent." Her eyes are bright, her demeanor suddenly enthusiastic where it had been nearly grim only moments before. "The coral seems to actually consume the stone! Therefore, the resulting structures precisely mirror what was there before, despite being now made of something much less safe."

In a moment she frowns. "From what I've seen, though, the locals have cannibalized the ruins, instead of preserving them as the precious historical lessons that they are. They're still beautiful, of course, but so much of the detail, contextual and otherwise, has been lost through sheer willful carelessness--! Honestly."

She seems set to go on if she's not stopped, like she's gearing up for a lecture or a tirade or something in between the two.

[wrathfulkhan]

Gene laughs a little bit at her initial description. It's fun seeing people get enthusiastic about a subject they enjoy. Lord knows he's seen that look on Tony's face more than once, and he's always been happy to cause it...even if he didn't care about armor specs or whatever he spent his time babbling about.

Ruins, though, are his jam.

"Let's be honest," he says, "I don't think the Erol'a are concerned much with anything older than eighteen." A little contempt in his voice? Maybe.

[ruinsprofessor]

Ruins are the actual best. It's true.

Raine flings up her hands, cross. "Of course not," she says. "I wish I knew what that had sprung from-- it's counter to every culture I've come across so far. Fascinating, of course, but unfortunately it would be much better studied from a distance."

A loud and irritated sigh. "And it has the side-effect of making the most interesting part of this visit almost completely inaccessible. When I think of the history that's been lost... it's a travesty."

It's perhaps for the best they're heading back for the turtle; she is not exactly being careful of her volume.

[wrathfulkhan]

Raine, you are not about to meet with any argument here. Gene likes history. His entire life has been structured around history, around his ancestors, around his heritage. The fact that there was not just a lack of respect for the society's elders, but a sheer contempt for them both baffled him and hurt his heart for reasons he couldn't quite articulate.

"I don't understand this place," he says, and shakes his head. "I don't think I'm going to spend much time in the cities."

[ruinsprofessor]

Gene is automatically invited on any further excavation trips. Mostly by virtue of agreeing with her and not having rolled his eyes about the entire thing yet.

"Nor do I," Raine says, positively grumbling. She's sure with extended study, the context of the land and the forces that act on the Erol'a would let her understand. But she doesn't have that time, nor the opportunity, and frankly, for once in her life she just doesn't want to. "Tu Vishan will be on his way soon enough, I'm sure."

[wrathfulkhan]

He can excavate the hell out of some ruins.

"That'll be a relief," he says, practically under his breath. Unlike Raine, he's not particularly interested in understanding the Erol'a. He just doesn't like the whole situation, and nearly getting beaned by squid guts earlier in the day hadn't improved his mood any.

[ruinsprofessor]

Raine nods, and her grimace looks about like Gene sounds. It'll be a relief to get back to the city, and a relief not to have to deal with this any longer, and a relief not to be so obviously surrounded by water. "I'm not going ashore again unless it's strictly necessary," she mutters to herself, and is content to take the rest of the trip in moderately annoyed silence unless Gene has a driving desire for more conversation.