event: portal one | the island

[mayfield_mods]

The first portal doesn’t take long to locate: it’s across the road from the Rec Center, in a field visible from the pool. There is no shimmering or flashy effects to indicate the portal’s presence. There is simply an eight-by-five-foot vertical hole in the middle of the air, a hole through which a vast expanse of sand and surf can be seen. Said hole is completely two-dimensional- walk to its side, and it will seem as though it’s disappeared.

There are times, however, when the portal seems to disappear even when viewed from the front. Every once in a while, the portal appears to flicker ever so faintly, like a television briefly losing signal. Don’t worry about it- it’s probably nothing. Those who visited the carnival last month and viewed the pockets of nothingness that plagued it may feel a familiar sense of physical discomfort when staring at the portal for too long- as if your eyes instinctively know that they’re looking at something that shouldn’t exist in this world.

Stepping through the portal doesn’t burn or hurt at all, although the temperature immediately rises on the other side from early autumn to the peak of a tropical summer. There is, however, a slight tingle to your skin that lasts only for moments upon passing through. Again, probably nothing. The portal does not vanish after you pass through it: behind you you can see the field and the rec center in the distance.

The island has no name. Its beach stretches from east to west as far as the eye can make out, and the great sea lapping at its edges is a bright, clear blue. Looking out at the ocean you can see that it’s calm, the waves soft and almost inviting. There’s no other land on the horizon, only a vast expanse of endless sea.

The only signs of human habitation you can make out are littered on the beach around you. A set of towels, beach chairs and umbrellas have been set up a short distance away from the portal. In the wet sand left in the high tide’s wake, a series of sand castles have been constructed, as well as a shallow pit where someone may have been buried in the sand.

On the opposite edge of the beach lies a forest of palm trees. The foliage is thick, but there seems to be a path carved into the flora a short distance away from the shore.

Comments

Cowboy Club

[springtime4me]

[Honestly, Hitler had been prepared for much worse than a tropical island paradise, but he's not going to complain. There's probably something dangerous around here anyway. It would be too much to hope for it to be completely safe. Taking a look around the chairs and blankets on the beach, he adjust the cowboy hat(no, really) on his head and turns to his friends.]

I don't see anything on the beach.... Maybe we could try that path into the woods?

YIPPIE KI-YI-YAY MOTHERFUCKERS

[little_thief]

[Kay is definitely more excited about this cowboy thing than the other two. It's pretty easy to see who motivated this particular wardrobe change. Grinning, she pushes the hat down to dramatically cover the top half of her face before looking over toward the path.]

Sounds good to me!

aw yeah rodeo time

[perfectsymmetry]

[Crowe's still a bit overwhelmed, but he's ready to go. He even has a backpack with notebooks, pens, his camera and his lock picks with him, since he wasn't sure what to expect.

He's still holding the hat. Kay why.]

I-I figured that's the best place to start. Let's go.

Git along little doggies...

[springtime4me]

[He nods. Hitler didn't even bother arguing with Kay about the hats. Besides, it's kind of cute how much she likes them.

Starting down the path, he looks at the thick foliage somewhat warily.]

Here we are on an island paradise surrounded by tropical flowers and I can't help but expect something horrible to jump out of the bushes at any moment.

I think I've been in Mayfield for too long...

Watch out for those man-eatin' jackrabbits, and that killer cacti

[little_thief]

Maybe there are poisonous snakes! Or cannibalistic savages!

[Which is why she's running directly toward the path, because clearly those things are exciting, right?]

[perfectsymmetry]

I sort of expect the same thing, really. We should--Kay! [Well, time to go after her.]

[springtime4me]

Kay! Wait!

[Also running after her. yudodis, Kay?]

[little_thief]

I'm hittin' that lonely trail, pardners! Better keep up!

[She's confident they'll follow along, so she just keeps right on running. She's conscientious enough to keep in sight, though.]

[perfectsymmetry]

[Crowe tosses the hat on his head to free up his hands, and then takes his camera out of his bag, just in case.]

K-Kay, don't go too far off!

[springtime4me]

[Rushing forward into the foreboding foliage. Clearly a good idea. Probably the best idea. Hitler is also not as physically fit as either of his companions. He calls ahead to Kay.]

We.... should probably slow down a little! We don't want to lost! And.... if there are clues, we might miss them....

[little_thief]

[Definitely the best idea. Kay does eventually slow down, giving the guys a chance to catch up.]

Yeah, you're probably right. And I guess making a map of the area wouldn't hurt either, huh?

[perfectsymmetry]

Yeah. Who knows where this goes. This might look like an island, but it's always hard to say with Mayfield.

[mayfield_mods]

[Meanwhile, there is rustling in some brush nearby.]

[springtime4me]

Wh- what was that? Did you guys hear that?

[Glancing around nervously.]

[little_thief]

It came from that bush!

[And even Kay's not quite dumb enough to go over and kick and poke the bush to investigate.]

Crowe, go see what it is!

[perfectsymmetry]

What? Why me? I--

[No really, it could be. It could be anything from a face-eating monster to a harmless mouse. Mayfield's charming that way.

What Crowe will do, however, is walk up near is, and see if he can see in without having to foolishly touch anything.]

[mayfield_mods]

[WHAT IT IS

is a trio of baby piglets, snuffling around in the dirt looking for food. They're definitely wild animals, covered in dirt and with no sort of tags or collars. When they notice the humans nearby, they back off fearfully.]

[springtime4me]

[Relieved, Hitler walks closer for a better look.]

They're not at all what I expected, but they are kind of cute.

[little_thief]

Aw, they are! Look at the little piggies!

[perfectsymmetry]

Oh... [Well that was unexpected. Crowe snaps a picture of them, for the hell of it.]

We shouldn't get too close. The mother might be around... I wonder if there are more animals here, then? How big is this place...?

[mayfield_mods]

[Crowe was correct, evidently, as the rustling of another bush reveals a decidedly less adorable wild boar staring the trio down.

It does not look friendly.]

[springtime4me]

[Hitler starts backing up nervously.]

Um...It looks like you were right Crowe....

[He glances between his friends.]

Wh- what should we do? Maybe if we just leave now....

[little_thief]

Um... y-yeah, let's just back up real slow...

[Kay holds her hands up in front of her and tiptoes backward as she's saying that.]

Nice piggy! You don't want to hurt us, right?

[perfectsymmetry]

[Backing away slowly sounds like a good idea. Crowe will start doing that.]

O-Okay, let's not make a-any sudden movements...

[mayfield_mods]

[The boar starts pawing at the ground, clearly agitated. Then, with an angry squeal, it charges- straight at Crowe, tusks jutting forth. Better move fast!]