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]

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 I had originally made my Atlas Gauntlet (just one) and let him hold onto it, but I only have one gemstone here, and I'll be making something for Caitlyn that needs it.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. ]

[hexcope]

I could draw up some designs as well, if that helps.

If you can make regular bullets, I'll provide the caliber size. With Hextech, it modifies the bullets once loaded into the barrel to take on magic properties.

Oh, and

Can you not tell anyone I'm making this?

[tinflower]

i'll come back to you. let me check some things. and i can make regular bullets.

and okay? why don't you want anyone to know?

[hexcope]

It would

disappoint some people

if they knew.

[Viktor will find out at some point. There's no way Sevika would see it and not say something about it. But maybe during camp, Jayce can break the news... slowly. Carefully.]

[tinflower]

[ He remembers their...exchange, at the café. Even so, Gorgug stares at this reply with some confusion. It might be his personal bias coming through, and the idea of making a rifle being extremely fucking cool making it hard to consider how Gun Bad, Weapon Bad, etc etc etc.

But rifle is still fucking cool.

...

He will not text back 'maybe they're losers?' ]

Okay. I guess I get it.

Is Caitlyn sad about getting a rifle?

[hexcope]

She doesn't know yet either. But I have a feeling she'll be thrilled with it.

[That feeling based on how well it was received in Piltover, that is.]

[tinflower]

I don't know what it's like to have people disappointed about something you make for someone, but [ Hmm ] I'll help even it out some and be happy for you and Caitlyn.

I just think it's cool to make something for your friend.

[hexcope]

It's not just about me making something for someone. A gun has one purpose.

But it's what she knows how to use, and if the thing that stands between her and danger is a rifle she can rely on, then that's what I'll make.

I just want her to be safe. She's family to me.

[tinflower]

I understand the purpose you're talking about is probably killing, but a gun has saved me many times. The purpose of the rifle you're making is to protect your family.

I think that part is really important.

[hexcope]

If protecting comes at the cost of another person's life, am I really doing something good?

[tinflower]

I don't know. Maybe you're not a good person for doing it. Maybe I'm a bad person because I kill people. Maybe the reason I've killed doesn't matter.

But my friends are alive. I'm alive. Someone else didn't get to kill me or do something worse to the people around me and I like that. I think that's good. I think protecting them is good.

Does it matter if it's wrong?

[hexcope]

[What Gorgug says outright is something he's still trying to come to terms with. He's not a good person. He always thought he was up until very recently, and over the course of approximately two weeks, when push came to shove- it doesn't matter if what he did was in the effort of trying to do good. He failed. He's not the selfless hero he thought he could be, and his actions prove that.]

Shouldn't it?

[A lesson in morality he was told, more than one he understands.]

[tinflower]

[ Shouldn't it? If the world wasn't filled with people willing to kill at the drop of a hat. If danger wasn't always a constant, if life in general didn't have an undeniable ugly side.

It's been three years of death, murder and mayhem. And where are Gorgug's morals? How does he feel about murder? Jayce might have a lower opinion of him, but... ]

I don't care if it does. I'll do it again.

[hexcope]

I see.

[Neither a condemnation, nor approval. Just understood. It's not like Gorgug's the only one he knows who holds those same beliefs. But there's less philosophizing why Gorgug does what he does- no causes like fighting against the oppression of Piltover, for Zaun's liberation, for revenge, or for justice. He does it to protect who he cares about, and there's something... maybe noble isn't the right word for it. Honest? Blunt?]

Let me know if you need my help with anything. Last thing I want is for any of you going in unprepared.

[tinflower]

Okay.

[ He won't. There's something uncomfortable wedged inside him thanks to this exchange. What's the point in asking for help from someone who judges what the last three of his years have been just because it's killing, end of? Even if there's uncertainty there, and even if Jayce is making a weapon for someone he cares about, but is holding his nose up in the air about it?

It-- sucks. It doesn't feel good.

He'll probably go and play really loud music over it. ]

[hexcope]

[rip friendship with gorgug]