Chapter Ten: The Welcoming Web
General Summary
By 2pm on Februrary 1st, 2162, the discontents were aware that they were going to be formally introduced to all the inhabitants of The Elko Commune later that afternoon. In addition, James had relayed that Raymond and him would be tutored by Celeste Munoz the next day, and that Dahlia Munoz had decided to take Sebastian under her wing. The four made sure they knew what their story was for how they came to the commune for the welcoming meeting.
Around 5pm the majority of the fifty or so memebers of Nature's Samsara living on the commune gathered around in the main cabin, making a group circle. Dahlia led in to allowing the discontents have their introductions. With James helping to translate, Wei went first and spoke on some of the oppression he experienced in Fuyao Beimei but instead on confessing his previous scientific research position, claimed he was a laborer. James went next, explaining to the group that he was looking for a place where he could experience a more fufilling lifestyle. After his speech he noticed someone had left the circle quickly, but could not confirm whom.
When Raymond introduced himself with the help of James' translation, he mentioned that he wanted to specifically be in a community that looked out for each other. After his introduction, Dahlia stood next to him and with a friendly arm around his shoulders, explained to the Samsarans that Raymond would be seeking help for his alcohol addition, and that all of the community should be ready and willing to help him with this task as Celeste tutored him. Sebastian decided to introduce himself in his bad English, confessing that Fuyao Beimei was a bad place and he was a part of that, and that he was hoping to be able to make amends. After his introduction Dahlia stood next to him and announced that this was another person for the community to keep a helpful eye out toward, since she would personally teach him how to get back on the wheel of samsara after practiciing so much deceit.
Following the introductions was and invitation to others to help the new members feel welcome, a brief communal "ohm" ceremony in the circle, and then everyone left to prepare for the community dinner. As James, Raymond and Sebastian spoke to each other in anticipation of what the next day would bring, Wei once again went to help Tabitha in the kitchen. He inquired about the child he thought was Abigail, Tesla Price's daughter. He confirmed her name and that her mother had left the commune in the fall. Soon after Raymond, Sebastian and Wei sat with Tabitha during dinner. Joining them were three other Samsarans, including York and Michael who had previously worked in the greenhouse with Sebastian and Raymond. Wei decided to teach these three some words of Mandarin at the table to help lighten to mood, and it seemed to work. At another table James spoke with Celeste. In between their lighter topics, James decided to ask about the young man that seemed to cling around Dahlia. Celeste did explain that Winston was a recent addition to the group and had taken a shine to her mother. That night, the discontents went over everything they learned and anticipated the extra attention some of them would receive the next day.
The next morning, after the communal breakfast of fruit bars and tea, the discontents divided up to their tasks. Wei decided to go to the greenhouse for a change of scenery and once again was friendly with York and Michael as he taught them Mandarin words for vegetables. James helped with translation between Celeste and Raymond (occassionally sneaking in a flirty phrase toward Celeste) as she tried to first listen to Raymond for the history around his drinking, and then give him new habits to help replace the habit of drinking. Raymond was resistant to a point where James wanted to soften the tone of his skepticism to these practices, but in the end relented and spent the rest of the day practicing a simple two-step move that would help him achieve a meditative trance when the urge to drink returned.
In the main room of the cabin where the welcome ceremony was performed before, Dahlia sat with Sebastian, and with a kind tone and receptive ear asked him about his lying. When Sebastian, through broken english, admitted that he was taught not to trust and that was the reason for his lying, Dahlia spent a significant amount of time breaking down how Nature's Samsara was not like Fuyao Beimei. After this long discussion and holding Sebastian's hand between hers, maintaining a calm demeanor, she asked if Sebastian was ready to tell the truth to Ursla, the woman who had asked him about the schoolhouse situation before. Despite still having a part of him wanting to resist, Sebastian said yes. Dahlia summoned Ursla to the common room. As all three sat down, Dahlia wrapped an arm around Sebastian and explained that he was ready to tell the truth. Ursla once again asked him why he was around the schoolhouse. Sebastian explained the story that he didn't want to hurt Raymond's honor in a broken english. Ursla's face softened and she accepted the apology. With it being the afternoon, Dahlia let Sebastian know they would continue the tutoring the next day.
Within an hour after that, Ursla asked to speak to James briefly and gave him a reprieve fromt he tedium of Raymond's training. Ursla asked James to explain Sebastian's apology since she didn't understand it, and James mentioned they didn't want to go into Raymond's trouble but they were helping him. She then apolgoized herself and explained that when she went to the schoolhouse with Abigail on her hip, she was spooked to see the new people around there. Both shook hands on a mutal apology, with James explaining dealing with Raymond's alcohol issues have been delicate. With that he asked about Abigail, and Ursla confessed that the girl needed a lot of help since her mother left the commune, causing her a lot of stress. James gave a sympathetic ear, and heard about how Ivan Sprouse was the one to say that Tesla had left to go back to her home country. After a moment the two parted ways, where James continued to aid Celeste in translating Raymond.
Later in the day, prior to the communal meal, the discontent finally came together and shared their information. The group soon agreed they had shared suspiscions of Ivan, and also debated the moral quandry of Winston. Deciding that they had to work more on finally pinpointing what exactly could have happened to Tesla since she wasn't back at Delaera, the devised a plan to get more infromation, and potentially offering to find her for those in the commune who were worried. With that, they got ready to join the commune for dinner at 4:50pm on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2162.
Around 5pm the majority of the fifty or so memebers of Nature's Samsara living on the commune gathered around in the main cabin, making a group circle. Dahlia led in to allowing the discontents have their introductions. With James helping to translate, Wei went first and spoke on some of the oppression he experienced in Fuyao Beimei but instead on confessing his previous scientific research position, claimed he was a laborer. James went next, explaining to the group that he was looking for a place where he could experience a more fufilling lifestyle. After his speech he noticed someone had left the circle quickly, but could not confirm whom.
When Raymond introduced himself with the help of James' translation, he mentioned that he wanted to specifically be in a community that looked out for each other. After his introduction, Dahlia stood next to him and with a friendly arm around his shoulders, explained to the Samsarans that Raymond would be seeking help for his alcohol addition, and that all of the community should be ready and willing to help him with this task as Celeste tutored him. Sebastian decided to introduce himself in his bad English, confessing that Fuyao Beimei was a bad place and he was a part of that, and that he was hoping to be able to make amends. After his introduction Dahlia stood next to him and announced that this was another person for the community to keep a helpful eye out toward, since she would personally teach him how to get back on the wheel of samsara after practiciing so much deceit.
Following the introductions was and invitation to others to help the new members feel welcome, a brief communal "ohm" ceremony in the circle, and then everyone left to prepare for the community dinner. As James, Raymond and Sebastian spoke to each other in anticipation of what the next day would bring, Wei once again went to help Tabitha in the kitchen. He inquired about the child he thought was Abigail, Tesla Price's daughter. He confirmed her name and that her mother had left the commune in the fall. Soon after Raymond, Sebastian and Wei sat with Tabitha during dinner. Joining them were three other Samsarans, including York and Michael who had previously worked in the greenhouse with Sebastian and Raymond. Wei decided to teach these three some words of Mandarin at the table to help lighten to mood, and it seemed to work. At another table James spoke with Celeste. In between their lighter topics, James decided to ask about the young man that seemed to cling around Dahlia. Celeste did explain that Winston was a recent addition to the group and had taken a shine to her mother. That night, the discontents went over everything they learned and anticipated the extra attention some of them would receive the next day.
The next morning, after the communal breakfast of fruit bars and tea, the discontents divided up to their tasks. Wei decided to go to the greenhouse for a change of scenery and once again was friendly with York and Michael as he taught them Mandarin words for vegetables. James helped with translation between Celeste and Raymond (occassionally sneaking in a flirty phrase toward Celeste) as she tried to first listen to Raymond for the history around his drinking, and then give him new habits to help replace the habit of drinking. Raymond was resistant to a point where James wanted to soften the tone of his skepticism to these practices, but in the end relented and spent the rest of the day practicing a simple two-step move that would help him achieve a meditative trance when the urge to drink returned.
In the main room of the cabin where the welcome ceremony was performed before, Dahlia sat with Sebastian, and with a kind tone and receptive ear asked him about his lying. When Sebastian, through broken english, admitted that he was taught not to trust and that was the reason for his lying, Dahlia spent a significant amount of time breaking down how Nature's Samsara was not like Fuyao Beimei. After this long discussion and holding Sebastian's hand between hers, maintaining a calm demeanor, she asked if Sebastian was ready to tell the truth to Ursla, the woman who had asked him about the schoolhouse situation before. Despite still having a part of him wanting to resist, Sebastian said yes. Dahlia summoned Ursla to the common room. As all three sat down, Dahlia wrapped an arm around Sebastian and explained that he was ready to tell the truth. Ursla once again asked him why he was around the schoolhouse. Sebastian explained the story that he didn't want to hurt Raymond's honor in a broken english. Ursla's face softened and she accepted the apology. With it being the afternoon, Dahlia let Sebastian know they would continue the tutoring the next day.
Within an hour after that, Ursla asked to speak to James briefly and gave him a reprieve fromt he tedium of Raymond's training. Ursla asked James to explain Sebastian's apology since she didn't understand it, and James mentioned they didn't want to go into Raymond's trouble but they were helping him. She then apolgoized herself and explained that when she went to the schoolhouse with Abigail on her hip, she was spooked to see the new people around there. Both shook hands on a mutal apology, with James explaining dealing with Raymond's alcohol issues have been delicate. With that he asked about Abigail, and Ursla confessed that the girl needed a lot of help since her mother left the commune, causing her a lot of stress. James gave a sympathetic ear, and heard about how Ivan Sprouse was the one to say that Tesla had left to go back to her home country. After a moment the two parted ways, where James continued to aid Celeste in translating Raymond.
Later in the day, prior to the communal meal, the discontent finally came together and shared their information. The group soon agreed they had shared suspiscions of Ivan, and also debated the moral quandry of Winston. Deciding that they had to work more on finally pinpointing what exactly could have happened to Tesla since she wasn't back at Delaera, the devised a plan to get more infromation, and potentially offering to find her for those in the commune who were worried. With that, they got ready to join the commune for dinner at 4:50pm on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2162.
Rewards Granted
PCs are now at level 4
Missions/Quests Completed
PCs have receive more clue regarding the location/disappearance of Tesla Price.
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