nashiramods: (Default)
Stars of the Nashira Mods ([personal profile] nashiramods) wrote in [community profile] thenashira2025-06-03 08:47 pm

Game Update: May II 2377

Weather & Recap ⭐︎ By Daylight ⭐︎ By Starlight

🎶 Recommended Listening: Transformers Prime Main Theme - Brian Tyler

may ii 2377
EPISODE 2: Bathhouse Blitz! Save the Black Cat and the Golden Butterfly!
May 17 - May 24

Weather: Chalra City is enjoying a balmy and sunny late spring with some light rain here and there. The inland breeze from the nearby beaches brings a cool touch and the promise of summer, and flowering forsythia adds splashes of bright yellow to many parts of the city. The highs for the month average around 72°F/22°C, with lows around 50°F/10°C.
Star Suite: The Library has been unlocked! Every Nova Knight will also recover a memory from their past life. More details in the post below.
Recap: In Episode 1, you successfully investigated and foiled your very first plot by the enemy! After Nautis identified the high-end complicated-patterns fashion craze around the Dan Flashes boutique as originating from the Harbingers, the Nova Knights did some thorough investigating and then, in their first serious battle since the night at Lucky Stars, defeated Dan Flashes himself. You can find the previous month's event log here.

You can see what the Harbingers themselves are up to in the aftermath of the event in the Episode 1 Harbingers Gaiden! Mostly a lot of bickering, but they're now aware of the threat posed by the Nova Knights, and they're already making plans to eliminate them.

BY DAYLIGHT
⭐︎ Now that Dan Flashes is out of business, a new business has taken over the space — so quickly, in fact, that it doesn't seem like it was ever vacant at all. There's now a frozen yogurt joint in its place called FroYo Better Believe It!. The only thing Nautis finds suspicious about it is the fact that people like frozen yogurt at all.

⭐︎ Shelley Lustre, art teacher at Everwave Academy, has announced that he'll be holding an art contest for the students. The theme: hidden beauty. Given his already very polarizing personality and deep fondness for seashell-studded sculpture, this promises to be a very...divisive competition.

⭐︎ Public bathhouses are a staple in Chalra City, and they're no exception to the march toward modernization. Newer public baths are bigger and boast much more amenities than their more traditional counterparts, which is precisely why the historic Golden Butterfly Bathhouse is at risk of going out of business! Run by Granny Chocho, whose family has been operating this bathhouse for the last two hundred years, the Golden Butterfly is located right around where the red-light district and the most historic part of the city intersect. But what the Golden Butterfly lacks in fancy amenities, it makes up for with its historic charm, attentive service, and hard-scrubbed cleanliness — which is exactly what its faithful regulars have been trying to spread the word about.

If you pass through that part of town this week, you might meet some customers and even Granny Chocho herself handing out flyers to try and recruit new customers — and if you bring the flyer with you, you get 50% off your entry fee. Not a bad deal, especially if you like quiet and simple! It might be worth checking out, though you'd have to enter as a civilian.

At the end of the week, though, the flyers are a little different — now they're offering a discount on the new scented bath salts the Golden Butterfly is selling! You're not familiar with the brand — a pearl in a stylized oyster shell, bearing the text Seaside Lustre — but they're being advertised as being great for both relaxation and rejuvenation. Apparently, you can have it all!

BY STARLIGHT
⭐︎ Recovered Memory: In the couple of days following the Dan Flashes fight, everyone will recover a memory from their past life — specifically, their final moments in the fight against the Abyss. More than just the dying wish, this is a full memory of whatever last conversation, fight, or whatever they had before dying in the final battle aboard the Nashira. You're not required to, but you're welcome to detail the contents of your character's memory in the thread for recovered memories below. You can also keep track of your character's past life memories with our handy-dandy info page template!

⭐︎ Hideout Status: As a result of everyone's tidying efforts earlier in the month, it's actually pretty nice in here now! There's a big sectional couch for lounging around, at the very least. It's even starting to feel kind of homey.

Another fruit of your labor is that a new part of the crashed ship has become available: you can now access the Library, a modest-sized room with floor-to-ceiling shelves, every last one of them packed with books. Magic books! Much like a modern tablet but with actual pages, these individual books can hold a wealth of magically-stored information and recall what you wish to learn on its pages. Naturally, none of these books are in the local language, but in standard Hassalean. That's not a problem for you guys, though — perhaps due to your recently recovered memories, you all discover that you also have the ability to speak and read Hassalean, as though you simply downloaded the knowledge into your brain. Neat!

If you'd like to have your character peruse the library, you can reply to the thread below to have the mod roll for what they find.

There's also a small hydroponic garden along one corner, though nothing is currently planted in it.

⭐︎ The Rewards page has been updated with the next Star Suite upgrade: the next room to unlock is the Aquarium, and the reward will be a Silver-level Star Suite power. Save up those SP!

⭐︎ Intel: Thanks to the missions earlier in May, you all know quite a lot more than you started! To recap: you now know that one of the Harbingers is named Prince Shellustria, and his magic is of the Glamour domain.

You also learned that the data Nautis needs to locate the Star Map fragments was stored in the soul of the ship's mascot, a black cat named Niangniang with whom Nautis does not seem to have been on good terms. Nevertheless, she's definitely been reincarnated on Earth too, so you'll need to find this cat so Nautis can retrieve the necessary data. Apparently recovering data from someone's soul is a perfectly safe, painless process, but the way she emphasizes these points makes you feel like maybe she hopes something bad happens to this cat. Anyway, she's working on a means of tracking down this elusive mascot, so she'll get back to you with more info later!

⭐︎ The Fate of Nova Zenith: Late at night on May 17, everyone receives an uncharacteristically subdued update from Nautis. Apparently Nova Zenith read through some books in the library about what was known to the Hassaleans about the Abyss and decided to investigate on his own — and ran afoul of Prince Shellustria himself. Unfortunately, Nova Zenith was outmatched on his own, and before Nautis could summon any backup, he was overpowered by Shellustria and claimed by the Abyss. He isn't dead, but captive, and he can be saved if they defeat the Abyss — but all the same, the loss of the oldest member of their group will doubtless rock the rest of the Nova Knights.
wood_sorrel: (Default)

[personal profile] wood_sorrel 2025-06-12 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
Maomao's brow knits. Her curiosity is, of course, piqued, but "let's do investigative chemistry together" wasn't the vibe she was picking up from Natalia until now.

"What sort of concoction?"
avemortis: (毎年冷たくあしらう)

[personal profile] avemortis 2025-06-12 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
Nova Mortis picks out the last notes with almost trembling fingers. The improvised lyrics hit just as hard as the original — harder, in a way. She thinks of the vocalist of her old band, the way she sang like she was sobbing...desperate for connection...

Nova Mortis looks down at her guitar. Her voice is almost inaudible.

"...A cry from the heart."
theriflespiral: (concentration)

[personal profile] theriflespiral 2025-06-12 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
"They've changed their supplier and started selling salts for the medicinal bath," Natalia explains, leaning in a little closer. "Seeing as I'm already using some remedies, I don't want to make things worse for me, you know?"

Ah, it's her Old Country cynicism coming around again.
avemortis: (毎年冷たくあしらう)

I THOUGHT I TAGGED THIS WHAT THE HECKY

[personal profile] avemortis 2025-06-12 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
Mutsumi nods — hesitantly, but she did come, and for the first time since last school year, she has her guitar case in tow. She sets the case down on the floor to unlatch it and pulls out her guitar, a glittery pink that somehow seems out of step with Mutsumi's whole vibe otherwise. Pulling the strap over her shoulder, she sits down next to Hope and gives them a nod in response.

She's not really sure what else to do, so she just starts strumming the chords to an Afterglow song that's been pretty popular lately.
theriflespiral: (cold)

[personal profile] theriflespiral 2025-06-12 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
"Perhaps." So easy to slip from the stage persona back to the frozen heart that's so familiar. "... I have not heard the song often enough to know the real lyrics. I apologize."
fibrillate: (quick now quick take our picture)

[personal profile] fibrillate 2025-06-12 06:26 am (UTC)(link)
The guitar is interesting, and looks a little familiar, but not in a way that they can immediately clock. They're used to it, by now, when Mutsumi doesn't say anything—but when she just starts playing the second after sitting down, and when it's a song that Hope recognizes, that's what takes them by surprise.

"Oh my god, is that 'Scarlet Sky'?" they ask, feeling some yearning in their chest pull them a little closer to the light again. "Afterglow? Ran is the reason I even thought I could pick this thing up!" Their fingers are already fumbling for whatever chords they half-remember, but Mutsumi's much better at... all of it. That's to be expected, though. They count themself lucky to remember how to do a barre chord in the first place.
fibrillate: (no one's from here no one my dear)

[personal profile] fibrillate 2025-06-12 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"You sound like him," they sob out, not sure if they're heartbroken or livid at the realization before acknowledging that they just don't have it in them to be anything more than what they are right now. The words keep ringing in their own head—which ones? All of them.

"Go back to everyone else. I need to be alone."
theriflespiral: (smile)

[personal profile] theriflespiral 2025-06-12 07:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hm?" She shakes her head. "I will leave. but I have more useful things to do, now."

The wind follows her as she picks up the pace and leaves.
theriflespiral: (violent)

SPECIAL: Eclipse

[personal profile] theriflespiral 2025-06-12 07:30 pm (UTC)(link)
a: Red Neos
Nova Neos felt the soreness in her bones, the way her muscles screamed, the thunderous horror as the shell chestplate of the monster splintered before the might of her advance. No spell names. No chants.

Just pure, explosive speed, fury, and strength, born of stone and devotion.

It had been so long, so very long, since all her cares flew away and the weight of her past did not matter.

She knew, vaguely, that her outfit was different. Black had replaced white. Amythyst had replaced the jade.

But her body was still her Temple.

And for here?

now?

It didn't matter. Everything was the bruises in her knuckles and the beast realizing that here was someone who could take everything they had and give it back in spades.

This, then. The return of bloody hands, the enemy broken before her, her muscles and her voice screaming until they were hoarse.

Yes.

This is what she needs.
Edited 2025-06-13 02:28 (UTC)
istandwithmycancelledwife: (our entire bodies)

[personal profile] istandwithmycancelledwife 2025-06-13 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
Kalim is pretty prone to getting distracted, but this time he knows he can't waste ANY time at all. He grabs the first instrument he can find at his apartment and hurries back with it as fast as he can... It does still take a bit, though, because it's a little bit too big to just teleport back with, so he has to get a taxi back to the arcade.

About fifteen minutes later, Nova Sunbeam returns to the hideout with a largeish goblet drum inlaid with mother of pearl. It looks like it's probably an antique.

"Here!" he announces, holding it up. Jamil will probably be mad that he brought this to the hideout, but it's fine! he DOESN'T HAVE TO FIND OUT! "Let's play!"
parillegal: (076)

d-

[personal profile] parillegal 2025-06-13 10:15 pm (UTC)(link)
As acquainted with death as Maya is, she's maybe taken it better than the others. After all, Maya's never been allowed to pause her life for a death before— why would she have the right to now, for someone she'd only begun to know? The others, of course, were free to mourn as they wished. It's Maya's responsibility to do her best for them while that happens.

There's other reasons for Maya's interest, though. She hasn't had many friends she could simply as, to hang out before. It's not an entirely selfless move when Maya contacts Hope— though Pandora's demeanor lately is a definite influence in why Maya chooses them to reach out to first.

> let's go somewhere together!


No 'hi' or 'hello', apparently.
parillegal: (058)

aaaand wildcard oops

[personal profile] parillegal 2025-06-14 01:30 am (UTC)(link)
The madame of the Verdigris house has a special job for Maya today; training a new head of house. Excited as always for company, Maya's prepared herself for another cursory introduction, but when she arrives at work after walking Najma and Pearl home from school, Natalia is already at the Verdigris House too.

"Oh! Hey! Fancy meeting you here!" Maya greets, stopping before she heads to the back to change, leaning against the door way.

"Are you visiting today?"
theriflespiral: (Shocked)

Re: aaaand wildcard oops

[personal profile] theriflespiral 2025-06-14 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
-- It's her first day.

She did not, in fact, know that Maya worked at the Verdigris House.

She blinks, twice, and... Is this the same girl? She has any expression at all, never mind the blatant look of surprise on her face as it turns out her shepherd and trainer will be Maya. Nova Glimmer. Oh, this is a conundrum. "Ah. No. I am to be undergoing training today, ma'am. It is my first shift."

She's not even sure where to go to change. And then, there's everyone around her, again. Her heart is informing her that not only is it pounding, it is not nervous in the slightest.

Which is, itself, a little embarrassing, by the way. How do you tell everyone you think they have incredible... Art direction?
Edited 2025-06-14 02:39 (UTC)
wood_sorrel: (鮮やかな世界があるんだと知った)

[personal profile] wood_sorrel 2025-06-14 02:52 am (UTC)(link)
Maomao purses her lips slightly, but chalks it up to cultural differences.

"Granny Chocho has been in this business for a long time. She doesn't skimp on quality." Part of the reason the business has been struggling to stay afloat, but she's uncompromising on that point. "What sort of interactions are you worried about?"
avemortis: (君の手は)

[personal profile] avemortis 2025-06-14 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
Nova Mortis shakes her head, surprisingly firm. Neos doesn't need to apologize at all. If only she could make her guitar sing the way Neos sings with her voice...

Her fingers hover over the strings, as though she wants to play something else but isn't sure what. She's still processing the raw feeling in Neos's song, feeling a little shaken. She just...wasn't prepared for it, is all.

The quiet words that come out, however, surprise even her.

"If you want...I'll play more."
avemortis: (🎸 くるおしい)

[personal profile] avemortis 2025-06-14 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
Mutsumi just nods, in acknowledgment even if not understanding. She keeps on playing, setting the pace and allowing Hope to catch up — and once they do, it's not half-bad. Mutsumi plays with a technical precision honed through countless hours, and her expression seems to relax a little while she's playing, but that's about it.
nashiranpcs: (shellustria)

[personal profile] nashiranpcs 2025-06-14 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
Okay, so that's not the most...refined commentary on art...but it's important to start with good taste. Everything else can be cultivated.

"It's not just sparkly," he says in a very Teacherly Voice, "it's elegant."
nashiranpcs: (shellustria)

[personal profile] nashiranpcs 2025-06-14 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
Shelley bristles even further, somehow. His face is growing unflatteringly red with fury.

"Another comment like that, Miss Koutolika, and you will be reporting to the principal's office!"
theriflespiral: (unimpressed)

[personal profile] theriflespiral 2025-06-14 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
"Promise?" She's not in his classes, so he can't exactly fail her. The worst he can do is kick her out of his contest, and, well, that's what she wants?

Despite this snark, the shape on the wheel is forming into that of a whelk's shell.
theriflespiral: (cold)

[personal profile] theriflespiral 2025-06-14 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
"... I would like that." Her cheeks color a little, even though her tone remains the same, and her hands look for something, anything to do. "... Though I might not be able to sing it. If you need a backing rhythm, I'll try to clap it out."
Edited 2025-06-14 03:18 (UTC)
theriflespiral: (cold)

[personal profile] theriflespiral 2025-06-14 03:14 am (UTC)(link)
"I play a lot of contact sports. Bruises are inevitable. That's why I came here in the first place; half off to help stiff muscles and improve circulation after practice is a good deal, and it's convenient to work. But..." She hums.

"That's when I knew what was in the baths. I'm after recovering quickly, not necessarily soothing anything, and something that claims to do both sets off alarm bells."
fibrillate: (flash flash car crash)

[personal profile] fibrillate 2025-06-14 11:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Hope doesn't have much of a chance to see the way Mutsumi's expression changes with how much attention they're paying to their own fretboard, but once they realize that she's actually letting them catch up, that she's really trying to have this be a collaborative thing where they both feel like they're part of it, they feel themself relax significantly. It's also a great way, for as long as they're both playing together, to not have to think about... everything else.

They mumble their way through the lyrics idly while they're playing, and if they didn't have to coordinate their brain with their mouth and both their hands, they might have a decent singing voice under it all. All that matters to them in the end, though, is that they're having fun. For the first time in what feels like forever.

"I told you you're really good," they say once the last chord rings out, feeling a little swept up in all of it. "How long have you been playing?"
fibrillate: (the last time that you recall)

[personal profile] fibrillate 2025-06-15 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
They see the message in the middle of some garbage game, this time one of those 3v3 shooters that they are still somehow getting completely obliterated in. (And it's not like their teammates are bad; they just feel absolutely miserable and like the weak link every single time someone snipes them from halfway across the map because they weren't present enough to zigzag or at the very least hide behind cover.)

When they kick themself back to the lobby, they pick up their phone and start typing out a reply.

Sure
I'm getting my butt kicked anyway
Did you have anywhere in mind


And then, after another moment.

I just have to stop thinking about it for a bit
wood_sorrel: (応えていくその度に)

[personal profile] wood_sorrel 2025-06-15 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
"That's marketing for you." Maomao shrugs, but at the same time...Natalia seems genuinely concerned about this. Everyone has something that gets to them, she supposes. "...But if you're really that worried about it, I can take a look."
theriflespiral: (deduction)

[personal profile] theriflespiral 2025-06-15 03:52 am (UTC)(link)
"If it's not too much trouble? I realize it's a bit much to ask as you're headed into the bath." Might as well wash up, too, honestly.

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