Where's the Elf Help Section?

[holtfinder]

WHO: Moonshine and you!
WHERE: The Bishop, Town Center, near the flood plain
WHAT: Getting her bearings, making friends and influencing people, getting into trouble
WHEN: After the superhero event, as she arrived in the aftermath
WARNINGS: None, will edit if that changes

[Closed to the Crew of the Bishop] Queen Takes Bishop
Upon being informed that she's been assigned to the Bishop, the ship becomes one of Moonshine's first places to explore. The larger rooms make her height look even more ridiculous against the proportions of the ship, but she still makes a point of poking her head into as many of the rooms as possible. At one point, she even picks one of the exposed cords in the wall, following its length to see where it leads. It's as useful as anything, as any signs indicating what's where on the ship are useless to her.

One particular place to find her poking around is the Galley, where the refrigerator and freezer seem to confuse her more than anything else she's seen. "What's the use of a big box of cold?"

[OTA] Nyoom!
It's a bright day in the city center, when suddenly a grey wolf with a small purple-clad woman riding on his back bolt across from somewhere near the livestock nursery, around the fountain toward the Whale Come Sent Her. Someone's excited to stretch his legs, it seems, though he alternates between zoomies and stopping to sniff around things. It is entirely possible that those who aren't paying attention to their surroundings may be half bowled-over by an overeager wolf and his apologetic rider.

[OTA] The Wild Hunt
Eventually, Steadypaw catches the scent of a nest of piglet-squirrels toward the south end of the Town Center, tracking their scent down toward the flood plain. Those within earshot may hear a loud "AYOOOOOOAH!" from Moonshade as the pair harry their prey. If anyone's interested in a delicious breakfast of fresh piglet-squirrel meat, feel free to join the pair as they hunt. After all, Moonshade's without the knife or bow and arrows she'd normally be packing for such a hunt. She has, however, fashioned herself a slingshot and gathered some rocks, but more firepower would obviously be appreciated.

[OTA] Wildcard
Feel free to reach out on Plurk (darkersolstice) or Discord (darkersolstice#9463), but honestly if you just want to throw something random at me, I will roll with the punches!

Comments

[out_of_order]

Cal folds his arms, thinking. "We might be able to get you a bow and some arrows. Those were available from one of the planets we'd visited, and I think some people had taken advantage of that. And I think there are some who have knives to spare around here if you ask."

[holtfinder]

"I'll ask around, then. Perhaps even trade the promise of some good tanned hides or clothing for them." She nods slightly. "Gloves. I'm sure leather gloves would be useful to just about anyone here."

[out_of_order]

"I don't think that's a bad idea," Cal agrees, nodding. "Gloves do sound useful, and I don't know that there are many people who make clothing here. One of the other newer people who've arrived mentioned she's a weaver, I think. She might be the only other person."

[holtfinder]

"Yes, Lark. We've spoken a little about how we might work together in the future. I have a little experience with weaving; I traded some lessons in tanning for lessons in weaving, years ago. And I'm used to sewing leather, which is more difficult than sewing fabric. So together, we'll keep everyone well-clad, once we have the materials and tools we need to do our work."

She sounds eager about that--for Moonshade, having a useful role within her tribe is core to her self-worth.

[out_of_order]

It's nice knowing people are so eager to work together around here. Cal smiles.

"Sounds like you've got yourself set for keeping busy. I'm not sure I can make any tools specifically. Tony might be the better person to ask for that. He's really good at working with metal. Mostly I fix mechanical things or take them apart to see if the parts can be used for other things. You're welcome to have a look at what I've salvaged in case you can find a use for any of it."

[holtfinder]

"Tony." She commits the name to memory, nodding, her smile bright and easy. "Thank you for the advice. I'll definitely be sure to look for him. And I'll look through what you've found. Where do you keep it? Here on the ship?"

[out_of_order]

"You're welcome. Oh, I set up a workshop out in the northwestern part of the city." Cal glances down at BD-1 who hoots and then turns to the side so he won't blind anyone as one of his lenses flickers with light to project a blue, three-dimensional image of the city map.

"We're over here," the padawan says, pointing to the corner where the hangar is. "The salvage shop's over in the next quadrant over, right off the inner main road."

[holtfinder]

She's startled by the projection, and then fascinated, leaning in to look at the image of the city. "Is this some sort of magic?" She even reaches out to wave a hand through the light, just to see what would happen.

[out_of_order]

The image remains as she passes her hand through it like some sort of illusion, warping only as the glowing lines find a solid surface to follow in the form of her fingers, but even then the map remains as it is.

"It's a holoprojection," Cal supplies, unable to help but smile lopsidedly as he watches the curious elf. "Basically it's light forming an image that BeeDee's mapped out. He can also show images of things he's seen."

[holtfinder]

"A hollow projection..." It's clear that's all unfamiliar concepts, but she nods anyway, and looks at the map more closely. "So here's where you said the salvage shop is? Is there any time it's better to come visiting?"

[out_of_order]

"Yes. Afternoons are a safer bet in finding me over there. I'm usually in between there and where the museum used to be, helping with things there," Cal says a he indicates the other building in question.

"You have a tablet, right? Do you know how to contact people on it?"

[holtfinder]

"I was able to talk with Lark using it! Though..."

The pride she has in her success dies down quickly, as she pulls her tablet out (it's very large for her hands) and slowly picks her way through the interface (thank goodness the Agrii used pictures) to a text message, showing it to him.

"I don't understand what this is."

Because someone's culture doesn't have written language.

[out_of_order]

Giving a nod at BD-1 to let the holomap fade, Cal steps over to look at the tablet as Moonshade brings up the text message. At least she's able to navigate through things well enough.

It's not so unusual to find that someone is unfamiliar with text of any kind. The galaxy is a big place, after all. "Ah- these are messages too- they're words that go with the ones we use to speak. Each of these?" He points out some of the individually used letters. "They represent a sound, and when you put them together they make up a word. Although sometimes they don't always make sense when they're put together."

[holtfinder]

"Oh. That's similar to the...'writing'...that you humans do, then? I never learned to read it, or really speak the human language. Only our chief, Cutter, and a few others ever had an interest in learning. It was always foolish to get too close to humans--it goes against the Way."

She squints at the words on the screen.

"I won't be able to understand these messages."

[out_of_order]

Cal nods. "Yeah, exactly that." He doesn't question the caution of interaction with humans. Given the trouble he knows they can cause, he wouldn't exactly blame Moonshade's people for it either.

"People don't tend to use text messages a whole lot. Tony seems to prefer them, but I think most people would be willing to talk over these instead, if you requested them to."

[holtfinder]

"That would be kind of them. I'd hate to be left out of conversations I don't understand--especially if any of them are important." Moonshade nods. "Thank you for all your help. Both of you."

[out_of_order]

"Always glad to help," Cal smiles. He stoops down to let BD-1 clamber back up his arm. "Anything else we can do? Or in general, really, if anything comes up you can always ask."

[holtfinder]

"Is there anyone person who's in charge? Of the ship or the city as a whole, I mean. Who's the chief?"

If there is such a person. Not all societies work exactly the same; meeting elves of all different tribes has taught Moonshade that. The Sun Folk, for example, had no one leader, but functioned communally with guidance from the Sun-Toucher and their Mother of Memory.

[out_of_order]

It's a fair question to ask. Cal's surprised it doesn't get asked more often as he shakes his head.

"Actually, there isn't really anyone in charge. There hasn't really been a need for anyone to take charge, and if any big things that others might have to be made aware about, then we'd have a meeting about it."

[holtfinder]

"So...how is work divided? Are people not held accountable, or is there some system in place? A tribe only endures if everyone does their part. How are rules made?"

She just wants to get a grasp on everything. It's not how her tribe works, and she doesn't truly know how to hold it up against the Wolfriders' Way.

[out_of_order]

"I think the main reason things have worked is because we all know we have to work together to survive here," Cal says.

"People have focused on the things they know how to do or figure that they have a little better experience in than others, at least until someone offers their skills. I know a few people are familiar with fixing places up and food foraging. I'm better with machines, so I try to help the others who're used to more technology to get things running around here that will make things easier for people to do other tasks."