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

[ He said "BRB", didn't he?? ]

No, this is my front!

[ Thank you, thank you, he'll be here all week.

Through a chuckle, he nudges one of the plates towards her, nodding. ]

Yeah, 'course! A valiant champion deserves her bounteous feast. Hope I got some things you like...

[ ah, it's too bad he's such a nice boy, because now he has to die.

except alisaie is much too tired to both commit murder and clean up the mess, so she steps right on past that to what he's addressing after. he's brought this for her? color her surprised, but then she supposes she shouldn't be, after he had so kindly provided her with water earlier, as well. ]

I -- thank you. [ she shouldn't protect such thoughtfulness. ] I do hope some of this is for you, as well.

[ His smile warms genuinely as he relaxes back against the cushions once more, humming contentedly. ]

Hm...yeah, but only what you don't want. I'm not the one who kicked ass in a fighting ring today.

Come now, don't be ridiculous; it has been a long, hot day. Please, eat your fill.

[ alisaie is able to pack down quite a bit of food for her size, but this plate is still very full, she doesn't want him to be limited only to her scraps. to entice him, she lifts a fork and a meat pie right away, and proceeds to dig right into it. ]

[ Oh man, that looks so good...okay, if she's going to insist!! Prompto relents, picking up another meat pie for himself before settling back against the cushion again, his thoughts wandering. ]

Heh...can't believe we're sitting by a fire after how hot it is out there.

[ She has to admit...it's a little ironic. Not that he's complaining. Sitting next to a fire is...comfortable. Nostalgic. He doesn't mind it so much, especially not with the fans to offset the heat. ]

[ much better. no one likes to eat along in front of other people tbh, no matter what world they're from, so she relaxes measurably once he too begins to tuck in. it's.. quite good, warm and savory, the meat all but melting in her mouth. ]

Mmm..

[ give her a moment - gods, she hadn't realized how hungry she was until food touched her mouth. ]

A good thing it is quite cool in here.

[ Look, Prompto can appreciate how good a hot meal is after a long day of combat. If it takes her a minute to answer, he does't mind. Even if he doesn't have the excuse of sparring under his belt, he still spent a good chunk of the day exploring the city, and the food tastes amazing. Even better when it's free! ]

Like night and day...wonder how they keep it so cool. Didn't exactly see an AC unit on the side of the building outside...

[ They're, like, one step removed from talking about the weather. Actually, they really kind of are. Why is he so bad at this? ]

Um...hey, where did you learn to fight like that? If...you don't mind me asking.

[ i mean, the weather isn't always bad to talk about..

...

either way, swords are a lot more fun to discuss. alisaie chews thoughtfully before she answers. ]

Well.. I was trained as an arcanist when I was very young, but I only began swordwork within the past few years. My particular area of expertise is rather uncommon, but I was lucky enough to stumble across a practitioner and persuade him to teach me.

[ bully, she bullied him. ]

[ It definitely is more fun to discuss - or, in Prompto's case, listen to her talk about it. Someone like Noct or Gladio would no doubt have a lot more to contribute to this conversation, but he can at least ask questions, if she really doesn't mind them.

As he continues to pick at his meat pie (sorry about the manners, Alisaie): ]

So, what is your particular area of expertise?

[ Tell him, Liam Neeson! ]

[ her manners aren't much better tbh, especially given how hungry she is, so if he's picking or shoveling she probably doesn't notice, and doesn't care even if she does. ]

Red magic.

[ she'll explain, because even in hydaelyn it's something of a lost art - though who knows, it might be perfectly common wherever he's from. potatoland. ]

A hybrid of spellcasting and swordwork, black magic, and white.

[ The mention of red mage sparks no recognition in his face, though his interest remains clear in his eyes. After all, magic is a very special ability where he's from, with only the royal line and their glaives able to wield it. Did that mean...Alisaie was royalty? She hadn't introduced herself as such, but he still has to wonder. ]

Whoa...sounds...complicated. [ His mouth quirks. ] But super cool. I guess...did Astoria take your magic from you, too?

[ That could also help explain why she seems so frustrated with things. ]

[ immediately her expression sours, and with a scoff, alisaie jerks her face away, scowling. it isn't his fault, of course, and she's trying to make that abundantly clear with her body language, but still her tension and displeasure are palpable. ]

She most certainly did. My red magic, and my abilities as an arcanist as well. And my rapier, which was attuned especially to me, and a gift.

[ from someone very important to her. thank the gods she still has her grimoire, at least, or alisaie might have burned the temple down simply for the sake of it. ]

I have been manipulating aether for as long as I can remember. Being without it feels.. deeply wrong.

[ Maybe it's not his fault, but he still brought a sore subject up, and he can't help the way his brow tenses when she scoffs. It's a sore subject, and that's not surprising. Noct had lost his abilities, too, and it sucked for him. It sucked for Prompto, too, and he only had a few borrowed powers.

But Astoria meant well...right? She certainly seemed like she did. But he doesn't poke that bear by asking Alisaie her opinions on their witchly superior. ]

I'm...sorry to hear that. My buddy, he lost all his powers, too. [ He doesn't name him. It's still weird to think there are people who don't know who Noctis is, or would at least recognize his name if Prompto invoked it. Better to help Noct keep a low profile if he can, anyway. ]

Like missing a limb, or something, huh?

Or a sliver of my spirit.

[ sensing and manipulating aether.. it had been like an additional sense, as vital and natural to her as touch or taste or hearing, and being without it feels not only crippling in the combative sense, but to her existence. it's like learning to see with her eyes closed, or function with her hands tied behind her back.

not to mention, it was her grandfather who gave her this grimoire, who taught her her very first spells.

a heavy sigh. ]

But I shall make do. I have no other choice. None of us do.

Yeah...guess not.

[ He wishes he had something better to offer her than that, because he's put her in a bad mood when she should be unwinding and relaxing. But maybe he can still salvage this, still brighten things up a little, instead of tanking her evening but sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. ]

Now I get why you were so annoyed with the chocobo thing.

[ There's a hint of teasing in his voice as he sets aside his plate. There's still plenty of food left, but he's stuffed. His compliments to the chef, even if it's not quite Ignis-quality. ]

[ honestly, this sour mood is never far from the surface, always lingering just beneath her skin, more than ready to ooze out. to say she is unhappy about this situation would be a gross understatement, and tbh it feels kind of good to bitch about it anyway, even if everyone she has encountered is frustratingly complacent. ]

Aye. 'Twas insult to injury.

[ hey look, not only am i going to steal your natural capability, i'm going to give you the parting gift of something ridiculous to replace it!! how nice!! ]

[ Prompto still thinks turning into a chocobo is an admirable power, but Alisaie has made it clear she doesn't see it that way and he won't try to change her mind. Even if he's not of the same persuasion, her frustrations are justified, and maybe there is something to just...giving her an opportunity to vent them, rather than trying to reassure her that it'll all work out.

He leans back against the cushions once more, folding his hands over his chest. ]

Hey...I know...this might sound dumb, but...with the Circle's whole thing being traveling to worlds to help people out, you think...she'd ever send us to one of our own worlds?

[ That's...one way for Noct to return to Eos and save it, anyway. ]

[ he's definitely more on track with letting her vent. alisaie doesn't need to be comforted or told it'll all be okay, she needs to vent her spleen, and all the frustration in her soul. perhaps it might not have been for others, but for alisaie, the removal of her power had been very.. personal.

but she's tired, now, and full of food. with a sigh, alisaie lowers her mostly cleaned plate and follows suit, flopping back onto her cushion. ]

I suppose it is not outside the realm of possibility, though why do that when she could have simply left us there to help them ourselves?

[ An answer springs to Prompto's lips in response to that, but he catches it in his teeth before it can spill forth. Sometimes the people the world needs aren't there anymore, but saying as much would be giving voice to unbidden thoughts that he hasn't even discussed with his closest friends. Because he's afraid they won't know what he's talking about.

The tension in his posture and expression ease a moment later as he exhales quietly. ]

Yeah, guess you're right. We'll just have to wait until our mission is over, or whatever.

[ He tries to sound unconcerned, but it's more crestfallen. ]

Mm.

[ she hums thoughtfully in response, though she cannot help the pang of homesickness. alisaie has always harbored a bit of wanderlust, but that came with the knowledge that she could return home any time she wanted, not to mention, she was still on the same planet. for all the similarities this world might have to her own, there are just as many subtle little differences to remind her of how very far away hydaelyn is.

muffling a yawn behind her knuckles, alisaie shuts her tired eyes, just to rest them for a few moments.. that's all. ]

You needn't fret. No doubt your beloved witch will deliver you home eventually.

[ x( ]

[ Hearing the yawn in her voice has one rising up in his own chest, his eyelids flickering heavily a moment later. The fire is so nice, he's full of good food and exhausted besides, they can keep talking while he shuts them for a few moments, it's fine. ]

Hey, let's not get crazy here...she's not beloved, just...nice.

[ He's too sleepy to even feel appropriately called out by this. ]

[ no, it's an unending yawn chain.. ]

And sweet smiles hide knives.

[ she'd take the time to lecture him on the difference between being "nice" and "kind" but she's made her stance clearly known.. and she's so sleepy now, comfortable and warm and full of food. her eyes are already closed, but it isn't long before that fuzzy feeling begins to set in, even while she's trying to keep up the conversation. ]

[ Ah, how comforting, she knows just what to say to calm his nerves... ]

Sounds painful. Who'd want to hide knives in their smile?

[ She knows she didn't mean it literally, but that's not going to stop him from being a punk! He lets his head tip back more fully onto the cushion, knowing full well he's going to regret falling asleep on the floor like this (what if someone trips on him? and think of his poor back!) but he's too tired and comfortable at the moment to care. He tries to fight it, but it's an uphill battle, and soon enough, he starts to doze. ]

[ shutup, prompto.

is what she wants to say.. but all that comes out is a murmured grunt. distantly, a voice at the back of her mind urges her to move, to go to the room that she shares with her brother, but standing up sure seems like a major hassle. she definitely doesn't have the energy for that, just now. maybe in a minute..

.. nope. she's out. ]

[ He catches himself dozing a few times and goes through much the same thought process as her. He really should get up and go back to his room and sleep there...no doubt the other two will never let him hear the end of it if they discovered he fell asleep in the middle of a common room floor. So he'll just rest his eyes for a minute...but a minute becomes several, and every time he halfheartedly tries to rouse himself, he only winds up snuggling closer to his cushion, curling up on his side and right towards Alisaie.

It doesn't rouse him from sleep when her ahoge tickles his nose, even if he dreams vaguely of needing to sneeze. It doesn't rouse him from sleep even when his knees bump against hers. Guess he was more tuckered out than he even thought. ]

WORLD JUMP # 1: EL MINHA.

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is this thread making u sleepy

it sure is....

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