acatalepsy_logs | WORLD JUMP # 1: EL MINHA.

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WORLD JUMP # 1: EL MINHA.

I ▫ main	IV ▫ premise			XI ▫ applications	XIV ▫ activity
II ▫ logs	V ▫ rules	VII ▫ bestiary	IX ▫ canon updates	XII ▫ taken	XV ▫ drop/hiatus
III ▫ ooc	VI ▫ faq	VIII ▫ setting	X ▫ mods	XIII ▫ reserves	XVI ▫ players

welcome to el minha.

It will happen at random- you could be asleep, or wandering the Temple, or a variety of other options. It will feel a little strange, like a sudden warmth spreading across your skin, and then your bracelet will light up and a semi-familiar voice will be heard.

I hope you are able to help the people of El Minha! And oh- in case I didn't mention it already, water is very, very valuable here.

And then you will blink, and it will be bright. Bright, and warm, as you are standing just inside the grand walls that protect the impressive city before you. At your hip there will be a small bag with a few bits of coin - nothing too crazy, and definitely not enough to last you the entire stay (which...you're not exactly sure how long it will be), but enough to get started. Your presence brings a couple of glances, a stare or two, but overall the city seems to continue on with its day.

Welcome to the Red Desert, the city of El Minha.

THE PALACE

After a few hours of being within El Minha, the King has heard that a large amount of travelers are now wandering within the city limits. An audience is called in front of the Royal Palace, and King Kathashun steps out onto the dias. He is dressed rather plainly, for a monarch -- a purple robe, with some gold bangles and bracelets, but no ornate crown or anything like that. However, when he appears, the natives around you grow quiet, at the presence of their King.

“I understand that there are a lot of new people, within our fair city. Welcome to El Minha, the Jewel of the Red Desert. Enjoy our culture, our people, our wares; we welcome you, and hope you enjoy your stay.”

There is a pause, though, as King Kathashun seems to weigh out what he wants to say.

“I normally do not spend my time greeting tourists to our city, as our Crown Guard typically handles educating our visitors on our ways,” he continues, folding his hands behind his back. “But the heart of our city has been heavy, in recent months, and I feel it is my duty as King to be clear, to be honest, and to speak the truth. Recently, we have been attempting to hunt down individuals who wish our city harm, who have harmed my family, and my people. The Syndicate has been active, as of late, and I warn all of you who are not familiar with El Minha to avoid certain areas of the city should you wish to keep your pocketbooks.”

There’s a slight quirk of his lips, as he says that, before he tilts his head in a polite gesture of greeting toward the crowd.

“Please, enjoy El Minha. And should any of you garner any information concerning the Syndicate, please do not hesitate to contact me.”

For the duration of your time in El Minha, King Kathashun will be within his palace . . . or so the Crown Guard says, should you ask them for an audience. That being said, you might be lucky wandering the streets. The King of El Minha tends to mingle more with the common folk than the Crown Guard would lead you to believe . . .

THE GRAND MARKET

Welcome to the heart and soul of El Minha - a massive outdoor market in the center of the city. Covered by fabric stretched between the buildings, this market feels almost like a city, or living soul, in and of itself. It is constantly moving, constantly evolving. Anything you could imagine is for sale here - spices, jewelry, weapons - whatever you’re looking for, anything at all. While you won’t necessarily find specific items from your home, you can find any matter of similarly made or crafted ones. Think cheap knock-offs, or unnecessarily well-made versions, because they can vary widely. There can also be items of some level of magic, though nothing particularly strong or overly impressive. (feel free to ask the mods on the previous ooc post about if an item is too over-powered to be found in the market - and also know that there’s always the chance you could find it in the underground. It just depends on how determined you are to track it down.) Stalls can range from cobbled together boxes and goods to grand, incredible stands - it all depends on what you’re looking for, and how long you’re willing to look. There is no map here, so tread lightly!

The merchants that work in the market are experienced, practiced sales people. They know how to sell to anyone, but especially tourists. Barter to your hearts content, but it will take a little more than a ‘please’ to get those prices down. They have expert eyes and will not take pick-pockets or thieves well. However, as experienced and watchful as the merchants may be, that won’t stop young kids on the streets targeting the tourists as well - so keep an eye out on your pockets!

As long as you have coin, water, or something to trade you are welcome as long as you’d like to stay here in the El Minha Marketplace. However, if you loiter for too long, you might get a swift kick in the ass to either get moving or buy something - they’re not giving away anything for free, and that includes the shade.

THE SPARKLING SAPPHIRE

As the announcement from King Kathashun comes to an end, all members of the Circle will be communicated - in one way or another - the direction to the Sparkling Sapphire. Free housing, you’ve been told. All you have to do is go, give them your name, and let them know you are part of the group that King Kathashun has directed here.

Here, as it turns out, isn’t too shabby of a place. A large building with plenty of rooms, it is clean and fairly busy, with a bustling tavern area and rooms upstairs. You can pick up your key from the older woman behind the front desk, and are directed to the staircase in the middle of the establishment. The rooms are clean, but plain, with one or two beds depending on your preference.

Downstairs in the tavern you can find food served for both breakfast and dinner, which is included in the room. Otherwise, there is a small fee for food or drink, and the servers are talented and experienced and very, very friendly. It is in the tavern that you can find the hookah, and some strange liquor as well, but it’s up to you if you choose to drink it. The food is incredible, beyond incredible, and they can make almost anything that you’ll like, though it may come out a bit creative.

The main room is comfortable - with a roaring fire but without the suffocating heat. There is a bard in the corner, who will sing or tell stories or simply play, depending on the feeling of the room.

Have a drink! Or a meal! While most of the people here are indeed Circle members, there may be a couple of natives mixed in as well. Take a load off, relax, and enjoy the hospitality that only a King’s Coin can bring.

THE FIGHT RING

The ring itself is somewhat on the outskirts of town - a colosseum-esque collection of buildings that watch over a pit-like arena. The buildings protect the Fighting Ring from any outside eyes, or any unwanted attention, as this area is solely under the command of The Syndicate. Anyone is allowed inside, as long as you don’t cause any problems and don’t start any trouble. There are a number of what you can assume are Syndicate-employed figures that are constantly canvasing the area as well, so don’t expect to be able to sneak in unless invited or allowed.

The Fight Ring is open for volunteers at any time, and once you’ve been checked for any fun business and told the rules (no magic, only weapons allowed are the ones provided, the fight will end once one side relents or is taken out of commission). If this still feels like your cup of tea, you are invited to take a spot in line. Perhaps, if you’ve shown yourself promising enough, The Champion may appear to protect their crown. Otherwise, you will find plenty of adversaries around.

If you are looking for a less aggressive route, there are plenty of seats open to watch, as well as many other members of the city taking a break to watch the fights, and they certainly wouldn’t mind sharing some of their favorite stories of matches or victories. The Champion is the resounding favorite, but the stories shared will vary to the point that almost no useful information can be gleaned.

Join in the festivities that surround the ring! Pick up some food, bet on some fighters, enjoy the competition, and maybe you’ll be lucky and catch a sight of The Champion, or any of the other legendary figures of the El Minha Fight Ring.

THE GOLDEN PHOENIX

The Golden Phoenix is the central location of the Syndicate . . . and locals will make absolutely no effort to hide that fact from the Circle members. However, people don't seem to be afraid to go, though you definitely need to have coin to get through the door.

There are multiple tables where various dice and card games are being played, as well as old slot machines. There are multiple employees in dark uniforms wandering around, offering drinks to all those who are spending coin on the machines, free of charge. If you loiter too long without spending money, you will be asked why you're there -- not in a threatening way, of course. But the relationship between the Syndicate and the King isn't all that great, as of late . . . can't be too careful with spies.

In the back of the Golden Phoenix, there's a tiny racing ring in the back where small lizards are being raced in a little track set on a table. You can place bets on any of the lizards and, who knows? You may win a prize, including a little lizard! How cute! (Be careful, though: they nip.)

But out back, there's another lizard racing ring, though these ones are . . . well, they're certainly not tiny. In fact, people seem to be riding on them akin to horse racing . . . and jockeys are a dime a dozen, in El Minha. Fancy yourself the next Triple Crown winner? Step right up, step right up, and take a spin on the track outside!

Additionally, please feel free to write up and work with your own prompts! These are presented as jumping off points for your characters, not limitations. The idea of this world- as with all the others- is to explore. There will be some NPCs interacting with characters as well, so keep an eye out for those as well! If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask them back on the mod questions thread back in the OOC post from before!

From this point forward, the Circle has become involved with the political stasis and climate of El Minha. What your character finds out, decides, and does from here on out will affect the future of this city- one way or another! But what you do is completely up to you. What you discover, explore, and uncover in this city will be yours to discover, explore, and uncover. Who knows what you might find? :)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Right! So...potatoes.

[ Not...popotoes. But it's a cute word! ]

[ ah, she's going to murder him. ]

No, popotoes.

[ You say popotoes, I say potatoes... ]

Preeeetty sure it's potatoes.

[ son, she will destroy you. ]

It most certainly is not.

[ she is welcome to :relaxed: ]

Okay, okay! If you say so. [ Said very much in a "I don't believe it for a second" kind of way. ] Let's find some po...potoes.

[ SUPPRESSING A LAUGH... ]

[ WOW HOW DARE YOU LAUGH AT HER, PEASANT ]

I shall find them myself, thank you very much.

[ your job was the pan, cretin. in a huff she's stamping off toward the food markets!! how rude.. ]

M-meet you back at the Sapphire, then?

[ Ah...there she goes. It's probably best if he lets her find her supposed popotoes on her own for now. They can regroup later, once she's come to terms with the fact that they are, in fact, called potatoes.

Finding a pan turns out to be pretty easy, because...they have one in the kitchen at the Sapphire. Which they are apparently commandeering. Or...that's the idea, anyway, Prompto seems to be having a lengthy discussion with the head cook by the time Alisaie returns. ]

— So I said to the guy, "that's my steering wheel!" Eh, eh? F-funny, right?

[ The cook doesn't even crack a smile. Whatever negotiations are going on here, they do not seem to be going well. ]

[ she will never come to terms with this face, because they are, truly, popotoes, and she won't apologize because he's an idiot!! popoto is way cuter, anyway.

but whatever, she does not have much trouble finding them, it seems they are a staple in many worlds, apparently, and she purchases a good handful and drops them into a canvas bag, which she carries right on back to the sapphire. she's still mad, btw, and has half a mind to just eat these popotoes herself, because he doesn't deserve any, really.

and he's also not here when she arrives back at the sapphire again.. was it really that hard to find a simple pan?? but lo and behold, his voice is echoing from the kitchens, shrill and unmistakable. ah. well, maybe he's on to something.. sort of. carrying her sack, she wanders up behind him, lifting a popoto from the bag and holding it in her palm. ]

Would you be so kind as to chop and fry these for us, ser? We should gladly pay you for it.

[ Oh...well, that's one way to go about it. Prompto had intended to convince the head chef to let them use his kitchen, which the chef was adamantly against — the source of their disagreement, it turns out — but he seems all too happy to listen to Alisaie when she appears. Get paid to cook? He is far more willing to do that, even if the request is a bit unusual. ]

Yeah, do that! Fries, we're tryin' to get some fries! Y'know?

[ The look the chef gives him does not really communicate whether or not he knows what fries are, but he gets the idea of it, anyway, and takes the poTAtoes from Alisaie and disappearing back into the kitchen. ]

Well! I think that went well. Now we just...sit and wait?

[ she's secured both the popotoes and the cooking, it seems prompto's only use has been to berate her!! and annoy the chef. she should eat all of these fries herself!

but I GUESS he gets a tiny amount of credit for sparking the idea. ]

I suppose so.

[ and, gesturing to the door leading back to the commons - ]

We should get out of their way.

[ He nods, before following her out the door back to the common area. How long do fries take to make, anyway? Can't be long, can it? Hopefully not. His stomach is starting to grumble.

He heads for one of the tables, pulling out a chair for her before taking a seat himself. Instinctively, he pulls out his camera to fiddle with it, before an exasperated look crosses his features. ]

Aw, man! I didn't get any pics of the lizard racing! Well — just gonna have to go back, I guess.

[ omg.. pulling out the chair!! strike two, prompto!! so many girls might appreciate this, too bad he is using it on the wrong girl.. next time she's going to pull out a chair for him instead, and see what he does. it'll be great.

but she sits nonetheless, and has hardly a moment to consider a topic when he's pulling out - what? some device. ]

Is that.. [ squint. ] .. an aetherometer?

[ it looks... sort of like one, or the closest approximation she can think of, at least. ]

[ Yeah, that's right, he pulled out the chair! Suck it!!! But really, he doesn't think anything of it. That's just what you do for a lady, you know? He's not attempting to make a big show out of it, or anything! Sure, she's cute, but it's not like he's...trying to curry favor. Not in that way, anyway.

Anyway.

His eyebrows lift gently, perplexed. ]

An aethero...whatie? [ That would be a "no". ] Nah, it's a camera.

[ He's about to make a joke about how it's not called a canora or something, but he stops himself short. He doesn't want to die today. ]

[ imagine that, he has learned something. it's not her fault that popoto is way better than potato?? pleb. but she can only take so much sass on a hot day like this so it's for the best that he keeps his trap shut..

nevertheless, she seems a bit disappointed by its explanation, but alas. ]

A camera? For recording moving pictures?

Yeah! Er - well, still pictures, anyway. No video recording on this one. That's okay, though. I kinda prefer photographs.

[ His expression softens as he says as much, like he is describing an old, dear friend. And in some sense, he is. Photographs have been a constant companion throughout his entire life, and for all that he has lost in recent times, he's grateful that his camera made the jump with him. More than he can say. ]

Still pictures?

[ alisaie isn't particularly well versed in garlean technology as it is, what little she has encountered have been recorders, the only still images she knows of are painted portraits. but, it stands to reason that if one can record something moving, you would certainly be able to record it still, as well, likely far easier.

she's just.. leeeeaning in. ]

How does it work?

[ Prompto positively lights up. That is, unsurprisingly, one of his favorite questions to be asked, and while she may get more than she bargained for in the asking of it, but he can't help himself. Evidently, everyone on Eos understands how a camera works, so it's not often he's had an opportunity quite like this, but as it arises, he is happy to explain. ]

See, it all starts with the lens. [ He taps it with his index finger, animated, with fervor in his voice. ] I can see what's in the lens through the viewfinder, and when I like what I see - a-actually, I could give you a demonstration!

[ That would be even better than him explaining it, he thinks. ]

[ she's a good listener and an even better learner, but there's really no better way to understand a new concept than by getting hands-on. at least in alisaie's case. theory is all well and good, but it never entirely sinks in until she's able to see it in action.

it being the camera, in this case. ]

Oh! Yes, please.

[ it isn't going to steal her soul or anything is it?? ]

[ Yes, it is.

Or, at least, her likeness, if she wants it to. But he doesn't want to be too presumptuous, so he follows up by asking: ]

D'you...want me to take a picture of you?

[ Then he'll...have a picture of her. It somehow isn't as daunting as when he wanted to get a picture of Cindy, but Alisaie isn't a grease monkey goddess!

...But she is still...super cute. Making the prospective of having a picture of her a bit different, somehow. ]

[ W O W it isn't her fault that she has tiny tiddies!! :c how quickly she loses goddess status..

unbeknownst to prompto's inner dialogue, however, alisaie breaks into a broad, warm smile, and nods. good thing she's not the superstitious type. ]

I don't see why not. Is there aught I must do?

[ it can't be too different from sitting for a portrait, right? ]

[ Look, goddess status is earned, she'll get there!! That smile is definitely winning her points, though, and Prompto can't help a creeping blush along his cheekbones as he readies his camera for the photo. She really is super cute...

N-not thinking about that right now!! ]

U-um — n-nah, just - just keep smiling like that! That's perfect. Oh — and say..."fuzzy pickles"!

[ Hopefully she's ready, because a moment later he lifts the viewfinder to his eye and clicks the shutter. ]

[ you know nothing, prompto snow, she was born a goddess. ]

Fuzzy.. what?

[ ah, it's too late, he's already clicked the shutter, so instead of smiling for the photo she likely looks mildly bewildered. saying that can't have been necessary to the process.. ]

[ Oh, it was very necessary to the process! And anyway, what's done is done. They can't possibly take another one!

She might not quite be smiling in it, but Prompto still likes the candidness of it, a smile slanting his mouth as he turns the camera towards her so she can see her image on the tiny screen on the back. ]

Check it! Your first photo. You're a natural, Ali!

[ Sure, he tells that to everyone, but he means it!!! ]

[ somehow she doesn't think that's entirely true..

anyway, he turns the camera toward her and - wow, there it is, right there! he didn't have to do anything else. how bizarre.. it is like a portrait, though far more detailed and clear and - ]

.. 'Tis quite small.

[ Wow, rude as hell. All those impressive things, and that's what she chooses to focus on???

Prompto takes it in strike, however, chuckling lightly. ]

Yeah, I know...gonna have to wait until we get to a world waaaaay more advanced than this one to print anything new. [ Oh! He reaches into his vest as he continues to speak. ] I-I have a few I could show you, this is what they look like after they're printed, um —

[ He hands her a stack of photographs. You know the ones. Various sights from all over Lucis, many of them feature the same four boys. Astoria let him keep these, too. ]

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