002 - Growing Pains

[tabularasa_mods]

Growing Pains State of the World ▲ Locations ▼ Bestiary
OOC ▲ Comments A Light In The Darkness
Light seems to have been especially tricky for the world to comprehend, but it finally, finally seems to have figured things out. Light comes from more than just the sky, and now signs and lamps that were once dark have begun to glow brightly. From the Wall Market's dazzling exhibition of color to the dimmed street lamps of the City of Tears, the whole world has been made bright and lively once more without losing the comfort and tranquility that darkness brings. Even the broken screens of the Hammerlocke Stadium give off a pleasant glow, and the world doesn't seem to care that some lights need electricity to stay on - lights are simply lights, as far as the world seems concerned.

Unfortunately, these new lights are a little too simple. Without any need for a power source, there's no way to turn the lights off - if something is deemed a light source, it will always function as a light source. The only way to stop it is to destroy the object beyond recognition, but that might not be the most practical solution. Covering up the lights is the next best thing, but it's a task that's easier with some sources than others. At least no one needs to sleep yet.

Difficulties aside, now seems like the perfect time to start exploring all those new corners of the world that were previously too dark to navigate. Fire is an easy, safe and portable light source that anyone can use, and it even puts itself out after awhile. Just be careful not to get stuck in the dark by a stray breeze.

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Who's Hungry?
Animals need to eat. People need to eat. These are simple facts that people lost in the strange, changing landscape all seem to be well aware of, yet appear to not apply to this world. That is not to say that people can’t eat or drink, for many people do, but there is no actual need. Eating provides nothing but the knowledge that one has eaten, and anyone might go without food entirely. Lately, some might have found eating has become more satisfying and fulfilling an act, as though food is providing them with a vaguely-defined something they didn’t get before. It doesn’t seem to mean much in the grand scheme of things, but perhaps it allows them some sense of normality.

When hunger sets in, it’s sudden. Every person, whether or not they ever needed to eat in their homeland, is hit with a powerful, overwhelming sense of hunger, to the point it feels that if they do not eat they will soon starve. Those who have never eaten in all their time here might easily find themselves so hungry they can barely even move, and have little choice but to eat. Fortunately, food is plentiful. If it can be put in the mouth, chewed and swallowed, it is food, and thus will give a person temporary relief from their hunger. What goes in does not appear to come out, instead simply becoming part of that person and revitalizing them. How long it takes to feel hungry again seems entirely random, and each time there is no lead up - someone is either fine, or they are starving, without any in-between.

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Starving Mad Beasts
When people suddenly remember hunger, so too do the animals of the world. For some creatures this isn't an issue - the tall-necked beasts continue to graze on the treetops like they always have, and the smaller creatures seem content with snacking on whatever small scraps they can find. Not all creatures are so easily satisfied, however, and the more aggressive ones have turned to attacking other species for food.

The vicious water dragons are quick to clamp their mouths on anything within reach... but, lacking teeth, this doesn't amount to much. Still, they're as persistent as ever, and in a way their inability to viciously devour their prey only makes them more dangerous. These beasts are starving, and for all their skill in chasing down prey they can do little to actually eat their catch, which means they're constantly on the hunt and out to get anything that moves. Perhaps it might even be a good idea to help them out, if feeding the fish might make them a little less aggressive.

The machines are far better equipped for hunting, and all the more dangerous now that they're hungry enough to take a bite out of someone. Death is not a concept the world understands, so it's not like they're doing any permanent harm, but it's still a bit unnerving to see animals limping by with bite-sized chunks taken out of them. They haven't had a taste of people yet, but it doesn't seem like it'll be long before they try.

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Mushroom Hunting
Mushrooms are a new sight within the world, and a perfect snack to satisfy that sudden debilitating hunger! Harvesting them can be a bit of a problem, however. For one, they are massive, and the task of cutting one down and breaking it into edible chunks is made much easier with a group of people than one person working alone. Finding the mushrooms in their dark habitats may also be difficult... although, it is much easier to spot a mushroom the size of an entire person compared to something much smaller.

The real problem with mushroom hunting is where they can grow, which is nearly anywhere indoors. Though light now comes from other sources besides the sky, there are still buildings with dark corners that might suddenly acquire a giant mushroom or two (or three, or four) if left alone. And if those mushrooms are allowed to remain, they may just continue to grow, and grow, and grow...

So, if you don't want giant mushrooms bursting through your roof, it might be a good idea to keep an eye out for them before that happens.

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code bases by tricklet

Comments

[theforgottenboy]

[Cole has also taken it upon himself to assist the local wildlife with the whole hunger thing where he can, though the ones he's least sure about how to help are the angry fish. If he just throws mushrooms in the water, will that be enough? Or will they ignore it to flop after him instead?]

[It's with this potential experiment in mind that he approaches the lake with a bag full of mushroom chunks, only to find he's been beaten to the punch. Which isn't a bad thing, though he is a little surprised. He wasn't sure anyone else would want to feed the angry fish, what with how aggressive they can be.]

[He approaches them, unbothered by the sight of two men trying to force feed giant clawed fish. He recognizes Blue, but he hasn't personally met the other person, or what he assumes must be another Pokemon.]

Is that what they're called? Magikarp?

[halloflamer]

Do you think they're having trouble swallowing?

[Blue's response is worry, and increasing squeamishness as the poor things struggle against his hands. Their little claws are digging into his hands uselessly as he tries to gingerly urge a thin slice of mushroom into the fishy gullet of one of the, only for it to flop and struggle in his hands, letting the slices fall from his hands.] Ah, sheesh....

[Blue is trying to handle picking it up again and still keep hold of the fish when he hears Cole's voice, and his head lifts in surprise.] --Oh, Cole! Did you come to try and help them, too? [Blue smiles brightly, in lieu of waving, since his hands are busy.] Yeah, they're a Pokémon, called Magikarp. We could probably use the extra help, if you wanna lend a hand...

[thunderwave]

Perhaps. [ a little distractedly, as he attempts to slip a piece of mushroom into one of the magikarp’s mouths, only to have the fish jab him in the hand with one of the little spines. lance doesn’t look too bothered by that, though, remaining still as he allows the fish pokemon to figure out where the food is. ] Something may also be affecting the Pokemon as a whole . . . Dragonite collapsed, earlier. It’s almost like how the Pokemon reacted in Mahogany —

[ and lance is about to continue when a newcomer arrives, someone that blue seems to be familiar with —- and lance looks up with a curious look, pausing in his thought. cole, hm? ]

Hello, Cole.

[ warmly enough! ]

Help would be appreciated; my name is Lance. It’s nice to meet you.

[theforgottenboy]

[Oh, so they're Pokemon...]

Are they always so angry?

[He was under the impression that Pokemon are friendly and like people. But that aside,]

I was worried that the hunger might make them angrier. I didn't know you were already helping them.

[He doesn't respond to Lance's introduction, though not out of any rude intentions. Social cues are hard. He looks at Dragonite instead.]

This is your friend? Dragonite...?

[He overheard him mentioning Dragonite collapsed. And it does look like a kind of dragon, if softer around the edges.]

[halloflamer]

Huh- He did!? [A concerned frown is sent Dragonite's way; Blue is much more likely to spoil the big dragon boi than Lance is, apparently.] Eevee didn't seem all that badly affected... Not even as bad as me, I think.

[Hmmm. That couldn't possibly have anything to do with Eevee begging foodscraps out of everyone he meets in the cafe. Nah....]

[As Lance introduces himself to Cole, Blue struggles again to maneuver a little sliver of mushroom into its bopping maw, and almost manages to get it in by tricking it into taking his finger with it....]

Ah.... [Blue glances between the furious dragonkarp flopping in his arms and Cole, considering how to answer his question.] Not yet, usually, [He decides on, although it doesn't really explain much of anything until you meet a Gyarados.]

[Soon, hopefully!] Not in my experience, anyway.

[thunderwave]

[ dragonite rouses himself at hearing his name, finishing his little pile of mushroom before nearing the water, to dip his snout into the lake to take a drink. and once he's done with that, he lifts his snout to push it (gently) into blue's face, nudging his cheek in reassurance before turning his gaze to cole. ]

Magikarp tend to be docile, for the most part.

[ in agreement, allowing the large fish to wiggle out of his grasp, slipping back into the water. lance will let the magikarp flop around a bit before trying again. stressing them out too much may just create a bigger problem. ]

These, however, are not . . . and yes, Dragonite is my partner. He's friendly.

[ for the most part, anyway, though the dragon-type clearly looks at ease with hanging out with blue and lance and the pissy fish. just another day, honestly. ]

I take it you haven't met Pokemon before arriving here, too, Cole.

[ lance has gotten the whole "this is my giant dragon, yes, he's friendly, no, he won't bite" speech down pat, by now. ]

[theforgottenboy]

[Not yet? So they get angry later? Maybe being old makes them angry? In any case, these ones seem angry all the time. At least now he has a name for them other than "angry fish."]

[Cole doesn't seem concerned about his dragon-ish partner, at least. At least dragons are more recognizable to him than Duraludon was, even if dragons usually aren't exactly friendly.]

No, but Raihan explained them to me.

[Whether or not he fully understands how Pokemon training and battles and all works is up in the air, but he at least understands that Pokemon are friendly, kind of.]

I'd like to help. I brought mushrooms.

[It looks like feeding them is even harder than he thought it would be, though...]

[halloflamer]

I figure we should all get together and make a guide or something, [Blue idly comments to Lance, on mention of explaining Pokémon.] For all these poor sods who don't got 'em, heheh.

[But in any case, Cole's help is more than welcome! Blue squawks as another Magikarp gets away from him, minnowing away into the lakewater before... immediately doing a U-turn back in his direction, leaping up to try and attach its toothless mouth back onto him.]

[At least it makes them easy to catch again.] Ah, well, that's really useful! There's a lot of these guys to feed, though I don't know how easy it's gonna be to actually do it....

You don't suppose they might be more inclined to eat them as bait from a rod? [He posits, glancing between Lance and Cole.] Maybe we could find a branch that'll work as a makeshift fishing rod and try to trick 'em into eating it that way?