un: aurora | text

[arora]

Hello, citizens of Etraya.

Our next mission will begin on Friday, May 16th. For this mission, we will not be heading off world as the last couple missions have required. Instead, the companion bots and I will be working over the next seven days to set up Camp Etraya on Ochreward for all of you to attend. This camp will include multiple activities which will be mandatory for you to participate in. Additionally, while I will not be creating a barrier between camp and the rest of Etraya, the expectation will be for all of you to remain within the camp's radius during your time at Camp Etraya.

However, I understand that some of you have come from Solmara, and there is some concern regarding my sibling's absence within our sister city. I too am concerned for their well-being, as well as the rest of the citizens of Solmara. I would like to shift some of my resources to send a team to Solmara to address this, but this is not in an official mission capacity. This is not required, and will be on a volunteer-only basis. I will only be able to allocate enough resources to support transporting fifteen individuals to Solmara. I can provide some basic necessities to assist you in your trip, but will not be able to provide much more in terms of support. You will be on your own as soon as you arrive within Solmara. You will need to rely on one another, and you will need to return with enough time to fulfill five days worth of camp activities to ensure you are not avoiding mandatory mission requirements. If you are unable to return on time, there will be repercussions.

Please inform me if you wish to assist the Solmarans here. If there are more than fifteen volunteers, I will select from those who request to go.

Thank you,
Aurora

Comments

[hexcope]

Gonna miss making friendship bracelets with me if you go.

[An extremely weak and obvious 'don't go.']

[cantilevers]

Save me some materials and we can do them when I return. Out of all of us, it should be me to go anyway.

[hexcope]

Because you're 'already dead?' That's not a good reason.

[cantilevers]

I have the most experience. I've been infiltrating places since I was five.

Besides, I can put this handy mitt you provided me to use for more than crushing rocks.

[hexcope]

You were a lot easier to hide when you were five.

I don't want you using it for more than crushing rocks. It's meant for crushing rocks. I...

[He doesn't want Caitlyn to go. He doesn't want Vander to go either, but he can't tell Caitlyn what to do. Maybe he can...]

I need the gemstone back.

[Maybe Vander won't go if he doesn't have a weapon.]

[cantilevers]

That is true, but that doesn't mean I've forgotten how to infiltrate. I just need a bigger window or doorway to slip through these days.

And it does good with that. Knocking down trees too actually.

[There was a pause between text messages.]

Why?

[hexcope]

[Now it's Jayce's turn for a long pause.]

I need it for something else.

[cantilevers]

For someone else?

[He is keenly aware of who Jayce's priorities are.]

[hexcope]

[Guilt is practically radiating off of him, as he tries to find more valid reasons than his personal bias.]

The gauntlets are meant to be a pair, anyway. You're only working with half their efficiency with only one. Shield capabilities are halved, and I still haven't fixed a few weak spots in the palm where if the wrong wire is severed, the whole thing is dead weight. I can make you something different- better for a rescue mission.

[cantilevers]

I'll return it to your workshop today. You don't need to make me anything else as I expect you'll have your hands full putting the gemstone to good use elsewhere.

I'll keep an eye on her and see she comes back safe if I can, Jayce. You're a good friend putting her safety first.

[hexcope]

[He feels even more guilty now, when it's clear his tactic didn't work. Vander sees through him like glass.]

I can't let you go without something to defend yourself with. I have a week, I can figure something out.

[cantilevers]

[Vander has to smile. Oh Jayce.]

I'm hardly defenseless, Jayce. Besides, maybe Aurora will let me take the old cast irons from the mines I worked in. I'll be fine; I've been taking care of myself and others for a long time.

[hexcope]

That was before.

[Before Jayce knew him, ever had the chance to even know him. Before Jayce realized how fast and sudden it felt like when a life is taken away, like the floor falling out from under you. Even Aurora doesn't know if she'll be able to revive them if they die there.]

This is more dangerous than anything Piltover could have thrown at you. You're going up against mages with just your fists.

Please. Let me do something.

un: gorgug, text, inbox

[tinflower]

[ Gorgug doesn't read closely what Jayce has been talking about, but he has noticed where he's been in this network post, and so: ]

hound and piltoversfinest are your friends?

[hexcope]

Hey, Gorgug.

Yes. We're also from the same world.

[...!]

You're going too, aren't you?

[tinflower]

i am.

i'll try and make them stuff to help them out. i saw hound said they're chatty.

[ Time to think really hard about what he can gift them...!!! ]

[hexcope]

Vander prefers close combat. Apparently has a pair of cast iron knuckles he prefers to use. I had originally made my Atlas Gauntlet (just one) and let him hold onto it, but I only have one gemstone here, and I'll be making something for Caitlyn that needs it. My plan B for Vander is a shield, but it sounds like he'd rather something he can use for his fists.

... What about you? You have your axe, but is this really something you should be doing?

[tinflower]

what kind of gemstone is it? i can make him shield bracers if i have the time? if he's okay with that. i need to look at my books but i can give it some charges. or do some kind of holographic shit so people can't tell which is the real him. i've made that before.

and i do this kind of thing back where i'm from and i don't want them bothering us and making my friends' lives shitty.

[ It would be soooo annoying. ]

[hexcope]

The gemstone from my home. I wanted to run more tests on it, make sure it's stable to use here in Etraya, but Jinx has been running around using the one she stole from me without any testing... So if there's consequences, we'll see them at some point, no matter how careful I am.

I think he'd be over the moon with shield bracers.

[Gorgug's reasons, as straightforward as they are, are just so... him.]

You're a brave kid, Gorgug.

[tinflower]

do you want a second one if you're gonna put it in what you're giving caitlyn? aurora's letting me get small components. you could have vander ask for one or two.

thanks. i'm also strong as fuck.

[ Sometimes, he can have pride! As a treat!! ]

do you think caitlyn is a smooth talker?

1/2

[hexcope]

["Is Caitlyn a smooth talker?"]

Ha ha ha!

No.

2/2

[hexcope]

Last time I asked for a gemstone, it was twenty points. Caitlyn's rifle takes one, and each gauntlet takes one, so I'd need three total to arm them both.

[He's a little sleep deprived, and so he doesn't realize he's let it slip he's making her a gun.]

Considering the weight of your battleaxe, you don't have to tell me that twice.

[tinflower]

[ You know what, Gorgug got that vibe. Vibe has been confirmed. Sorry, Caitlyn. ]

she might be nice for the occasion and let vander have one if he tells her how bad the bots are?

[ Who knows!! But that's up to Vander and Jayce. ]

i'll speak to vander. if there's anything you think is caitlyn's weak spot i might be able to make her something too. maybe speed if she's got to keep her distance?

[hexcope]

If Vander can swing a gemstone, then I can fix a few of the flaws in the gauntlet, and he can take that with him. It has some shield capabilities built into it, but it's not ideal without the second gauntlet, which I haven't made yet.

Speed would help. She's pretty fast, but if someone closes distance with her, there's not a lot she can do about it. Also if you know how to make armor, something for her legs. She's always running around in skirts with no thigh protection. I bet she'd say something like it slows her down, but you know what also slows you down? Permanent leg injuries.

[tinflower]

i can see if i can make her leg guards, but i'm actually just used to making arm guards or devices that go around the chest. but i can look in my books for a design. i had to make feet attachments so i could make leg protection

[ In theory. There's a question mark at the end there he isn't putting down to hide his unsure levels. H-HE'LL HAVE A READ... ]

but if you show me her rifle when it's done, i can see if i can make it some better bullets. i've never worked with rifles but i'm pretty good at magic ammo

[ As long as something about this gemstone and his magic doesn't make the gun explode from being close together. Is that a thing. ]