vella | intro log

intro log

INTRO LOG ♬

Whether you were in the middle of battle, on a grand adventure, or simply relaxing somewhere comfortable doesn’t matter. Whatever it was you were doing is suddenly interrupted by time suddenly going still. Everything around you freezes. The rest of the world seems to come to a standstill. The only thing that appears to be in motion is you -- though any temptation to try and figure out what’s going on is suddenly interrupted by the presence of something...small. Something light, like a piece of paper, floating down right in front of you.

A closer inspection reveals that this mysterious piece of paper is actually a ticket of some kind. You can’t quite decipher what it says, but judging by the layout of the text and the clear image of an airplane on it, you can tell that this is a travel ticket.

Not that you have much time to inspect it anyway, because when you reach out and touch it, the world suddenly starts to warp.

Arrival

You blink, and the next thing you know, you’re falling. You aren’t falling quite as gracefully as that strange ticket was; no, you’re descending very rapidly towards the ground. You can make out that your body is...glowing...a bright shade of yellow, and the ground can either mean the sand on the beach or the ocean itself. Regardless of where you land, the impact is not painful. You can feel the thud or the splash depending on where you end up, but it doesn’t hurt whatsoever.

Those in the water are not far away from shore at all. A quick swim will get you to land! For those of you who can’t swim, well, you may want to consider calling for help, given that you aren’t alone. The glowing seems to have stopped, but you can clearly make out the figures of other people nearby under the moonlight.

The land above the sand is thick with grass and overgrown weeds. There are some bugs here and there (namely tiger beetles) that skitter about, but unless you’re willing to use your bare hands, you don’t have anything to catch them with. For a light source, you can try to make a fire on your own using some twigs lying about from the trees, both apple trees and non-fruit-bearing trees alike, if you wish. Nobody’s stopping you.

There are also assorted tents throughout this part of the island. Each tent has a number on it and a little mailbox to accompany it, and there are eleven total. There’s nothing inside, when you go in, however.

The only other notable thing here is that smack down in the middle of the area you’re in seems to be some kind of man made area. There’s a large rectangle of dirt, and sitting on top of that dirt are three things: A wooden bulletin board with nothing on it, a large green tent with a leaf-like emblem above the opening, and a tall speaker next to the tent. Seems like someone’s been here before. If you step inside of the tent, nobody’s there. It’s completely empty inside, too. Below that tent are two large red tents, one with a "Women's" sign over it and one with a "Men's" sign. There are so many tents.

The airport to the south is locked, and try as you might, the seaplane docked behind it will not start up.

But before you venture too far out, you might want to gather your bearings first and chat with those who’ve been brought here with you. Maybe try to figure out a way to survive the night...assuming help isn’t already on the way.

And maybe some of you might need the help, considering you might not be like how you were before…

The Nook

Some time passes into the night. You’ve met some of the others, maybe did a little bit of exploring and set-up; but moments later, there’s suddenly a little seaplane up ahead. You can hear the plane from wherever you are, and it starts to descend near the airport. It descends rather quickly; you can’t quite see who’s operating the plane, but the passenger door opens.

If you happen to be near the airport, raccoon-like figure emerges from the plane and looks at you expectantly. He’s wearing a white collared shirt with a turquoise leaf-like pattern on it; he also has some khaki shorts on. Finally, he’s got the same emblem on his shirt that the sign above the entrance to the large green tent had. He smiles and it reaches his eyes.

“Ah! You’re all here already, hm? Yes, yes, it’s nice to see you here.” He walks towards the rectangle of dirt, and from his pocket he produces a microphone. Then, he speaks into it, and his voice echoes through the speakers: “Please report to Resident Services near the airport. Thank you.”

Whoever does decide to gather around will be met with an introduction from the tanuki: “Let’s see… First things first, welcome, everyone, to your new island! My name is Tom Nook, founder and president of Nook Inc. This is our first ever Deserted Island Getaway Package experience, so please bear with us while we make adjustments to our program as needed. Now... Today is your first official day -- er, evening on the island. Nook Inc. will always be available to ensure your comfort and safety.”

He then goes on to do roll call. This may take a while, but at least you’ll start learning the names of the other people you’re here with!

“Moving on, I have some camping supplies for each of you that I’ll be delivering to your tents tonight. I do have some assignments for each of you, you see, to ensure that there aren’t some people who are without a place to sleep in…”

Tom Nook then proceeds to read out the tent assignments. Yes, you all have those now, apparently. Hope you get along with your new roommates!

“There will be more announcements for you tomorrow, after you all get a good night’s rest. Yes, yes! Please get to know each other, and I will see all of you at nine AM tomorrow morning.”

A pause, then: “Ah-! Before I get to distributing the supplies, if there are any questions that I can answer now, go ahead and ask them.”

Should you not have any questions, you're free to turn in for the night. Get to know your roommates, arrange your camping supplies when they're delivered to you, and enjoy the sweet tunes on the radio. Or...you can get up to mischief outdoors, too. Nobody's stopping you! This is your island now and you get to do whatever you want.

Isn't that swell?

(OOC: Welcome to Vella’s intro log! Any IC, NPC questions can be posted under the “NPC QUESTIONS” top level; any intro log questions can be posted under the “OOC QUESTIONS” top level! Don't forget to turn in your threads for rewards, too. We hope you have fun!)

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I mean any thing! I've got feathers instead of fingers!

[He splays all those primaries dramatically.]

I need to know if these things have any jolly STRENGTH to them! What kind of a Driver can't even lift his own sword? I'll be stuck kicking bitballs around. You might as well just pluck me for dinner if that's the case!

[ So... The Dumbo route, with a magic flying feather, is the most sense Minato's able to make from all of this, but he doesn't really have much on his person to test any of this out. All he has is whatever he's wearing, and much of it won't be any good for testing strength, even as Minato pulls at the ribbon around his neck, deciding the sheer fabric won't hold, and eventually undoing the leather strap of his watch and holding it out to Zeke for appraisal. ]

Don't give up yet. How's this?

[ The glass over the watch face has smashed, and the time is stuck at midnight. ]

Well, if I can hold it, it'll be right three times a day.

[Zeke uncurls his feathers. Then curls them again. Then folds his wing slightly. Then splays it out. Then somehow manages to fluff all his feathers so he looks like a puffball.]

Hang on. How do these things WORK anyway?!

[ Three times a day...

If it helps, it helps. Zeke seems to be doing better than Minato is, though he's given up on trying until after he's gotten dried off more. He stands, watching Zeke flex and fold and fluff, and barely manages to suppress a smile at the puffball. ]

Keep working at it. It's sorta like your arms. You need to...

[ He holds his arms out to either side of him, hands angled slightly down and fingers splayed out as far as he can spread them. ]

Hold on. [An insight strikes. Zeke closes his unpatched eye, and without the confusing visuals, manages to open his wing so it's as close to a palm as he can get.] How's that? Suitable for handing over?

[ Suitable for something, but Minato was thinking flying instead of... whatever. It works out, and he nods-- then gives the verbal confirmation too. ]

Looks good. Why don't you try it now?

[Zeke's just trying to hold something! But flying would be pretty amazing, he has to admit.]

Well, if I can't fight properly, at least I can kick things. From the air! Ha ha!

[Triumphantly, Zeke breaks into a run, flapping his wings vigorously as he takes off!]

[Except it's actually just him jumping!]

[And when he crashes face-first into the ground, his beak plows a nice furrow for a few feet!]

[Ouch!]

[ Ouch... Minato winces sympathetically as he jogs to catch up to him, crouching down in preparation to help Zeke up once he next to him. ]

...Better? I think you almost got it. Keep your center of gravity closer instead of further out, so you can keep pushing off if you start to fall.

[ In this way, he imagines Zeke would just keep jumping, but at least he won't faceplant? ]

[Zeke pushes himself off the ground with his wings, and opens his bill to speak. A large clod of dirt promptly tumbles out.]

Pyeuch! I have to say, chum, I'm not getting any lift at all. I don't think I'm a bird meant for the sky. Might be able to get some height on some jumps, but winging it's out of my league.

Mm... Not all birds fly well, yeah.

[ But then what's the point! of being a bird!! ]

You ran pretty fast, though. Maybe that's your strength? Or swimming?

That's just me. I am a Driver back home, after all, even if I'm short a Blade here. [With a grunt, Zeke picks himself up, then dusts his coat off. Turns out big feathers do that job really well!]

[ tfw you wish you could hear capitals ]

What sort of driver? Sounds like a skill that can transfer over to flying...

[ Specifically, he points over towards the airport in the near distance. ]

I'm best with lightning, since Pandy's a lightning Blade. [Yes, that is the correct answer. From Zeke's perspective.] People who don't use my CORRECT title call me Thunderbolt Zeke, after all! But there's less flying in that and more just a lot of jumping quite high, you know how it is.

[ He does not know how it is. ]

Lightning's one of the more useful... Mm. Never mind. What's your "correct" title?

[Zeke flings his wings wide.]

Zeke von Genbu, BRINGER OF CHAOS!

[ WHAT A MOUTHFUL

Minato takes note of the fact that Zeke's able to control his wings enough for such an impressive display, though. Maybe all it takes is not thinking about it too hard. ]

Oh, I know Genbu. Tortoise and snake?

[Zeke waves a hand.] Turters is the tortoise. Genbu is the Titan in which the Kingdom of Tantal resides.

[ He recognizes Titan too, but it's a common enough name that he can accept coincidence. ]

I don't know Tantal.

[ Or that kingdoms still existed. ]

Zeke von Genbu, Bringer of Chaos... Are you bringing chaos to this island too? A thunderstorm would be cool. And alligators.

I could've handled thunder if Pandy was here. [Zeke heaves a long, deep breath, feathers all drooping.] I'm a Driver, but without my Blade I'm not up for much special.

[ He can argue about people being special no matter what, but it doesn't seem like the time or place for it. Again, alligators sound like they aren't going to be a thing...

Minato flexes his wings a little, experimentally, but they're still damp and stick together and he gives up, looking at Zeke instead. ]

Is it a special blade? I dunno about finding on here, but some sort of weapon might not be a bad idea. A tree branch. Standard starter weapon, second to a pipe.

Well, Pandy's a pretty special Blade. Don't tell her I said so if you ever saw her. I suppose I can use a normal sort of weapon if I can't find a Core Crystal here, though... [Shoebills are very bad at looking thoughtful, but Zeke tries anyway.]

[ Minato smiles a little, instead of making promises, because an admission like that? definitely going to tell Pandy if he ever meets her. ]

I dunno what a "core crystal" is, but if you describe it to me, I'll let you know if I ever find one.

Core Crystal! Oh, maybe you call it something different where you're from... you know, fits in your palm, resonate with it and a Blade comes out? [He makes a cupping sort of gesture, though with a wing that might not be the clearest.]

[ Something crystalline, that you resonate with, and a Blade... some sort of power, Minato adjusts the wording, comes out of. ]

...I think I know what you mean. I've heard it being called a "Plume of Dusk," or "Papillon Heart."

Bit of a fancy name, but I can get behind it. [Well, he suppose that having a weaponized lifeform pop out of a crystal might lend itself to that if you didn't know the proper term.] Haven't seen a single Blade here, though, so it does make a fellow wonder.

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