hadriel_logs | Intro Log: A Stinging Letdown

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Intro Log: A Stinging Letdown

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for May
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: May 10th-16th
Warnings: Monsters. Newbies. Disappointment.

You awaken rather unceremoniously, finding yourself on the hard ground of a large arena, a stone ceiling stretching high above you. Welcome to Hadriel, newcomer, we hope you enjoy your stay in our lovely cave city. This may be a little more difficult to do than expected, considering the monsters.

Yes, it looks as though a few manticores arrived along with you - and they woke up before you, because that's just how your luck is going today. These creatures are large, about the size and shape of a lion, and not very attractive. In fact, they're a bit like a collection of spare parts - the body of a lion, the wings of a bat, the face of a human, and the tail of a scorpion. And that tail's not just for show. If their lion claws don't get you, that tail might shoot a poisonous spine that will paralyze you, leaving you defenseless and all ready to be eaten. Good times!

But wait! There's more! Starting to feel like you might need a stiff drink? Throughout the arena, you can also find a number of very interesting-looking bottles of liquor. Give one a try, if you dare - or if you just really need to drink your misery away. And that'll be your very first lesson in the disappointment of Hadriel - because though they taste the way they're supposed to, each and every one of these bottles of liquor has become non-alcoholic. Yikes.

Hopefully you can recover from that heart-crushing disappointment. Once you find your way out of the colosseum there's plenty of other distractions. Feel free to go explore the rest of the city! Find a house, a new monster, a project to help with, or simply scavenge for supplies. Good luck, and enjoy your stay in Hadriel!

► This log covers May 10th-16th.
► Feel free to make your own logs as well!
► All characters arrive with phones that have network communication and the newbie guide installed.
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!

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[ Cecily can count the amount of times she's been in Fear's temple on one hand. Moreover, she can count the amount of times that she's enjoyed being in Fear's temple on no hands. The Inquisitor lingers outside for a while, mentally debating the merits of putting herself through the emotional turmoil of being in said temple for any amount of time.

But... this is for a reason. A good reason. ... Well, not "good," but - a compelling one. Leliana may have come back here to carry out a deal with the god, since it wouldn't be the first time, and Cecily isn't about to let her spymaster go at it alone.

Steeling herself, she enters, though not without the usual bow slung across her back. The anchor crackles unpleasantly in the semi-darkness, and she nearly chides it aloud when the presence of another person (Maker, she hopes it's a person and not one of the manticores) pricks at her senses. ]

I doubt you want to be in here... [ Cecily calls out lightly, knowing full-well the hypocrisy of it. ] If you've never been... well, it's about as enjoyable as spending time locked in a tiny room with an enormous -

[ Before she can finish, she sees just who's wandered into the temple. Something decidedly like fear lodges into her throat and she comes to a dead stop in the middle of the room. ]

... spider. [ Comes the quiet conclusion. ]

[ Had he known that he was walking into Fear's temple, Alistair might have put a bit more thought into this little exploration. Maybe he would have Cleansed the area, or hummed a happy little tune, or used Holy Smite at the door just in case. Instead, he waltzed right in and started poking his nose into things. He's on guard now, thanks to the foreign feeling at the door — but, even with all his training, it's difficult to shake the fear that presses against his mind.

[ Which is probably why, when he hears a voice, he's far more startled than he should be. To his credit, he doesn't jump or yelp or anything like that. But his armor definitely clangs as he jerks to face the speaker.

[ It's a woman. A woman he's sure he doesn't know, staring at him like she's seen a ghost.

[ A chill runs down Alistair's spine. It's ... hard to tell if it's a foreign feeling or not. ]

... I, ah. [ Wherever that chill is coming from, he's doing his best to ignore it. ] I take it you're not a fan? Of spiders, that is.

[ It's hard to keep his tone light when she's looking at him like that. ]

[ Without all of her experiences with other Thedosians in Hadriel to inform her, she might assume he's using levity to ease the tension of the meeting. ... But, having since learned about "multiple" variations on their world since her arrival, she gives it more consideration before coming to that decision. He may not remember her, having come from a world with yet another blighted Inquisitor... and more than that, he looks different. There are less lines creasing his face for certain: she can see that from where she stands. ]

That - No, I only meant that it would be... equally as uncomfortable. [ The best way to figure out what's happening is to talk, isn't it? See how he reacts. ] I'm not a fan of spending too much time in a place that can feel straight out of a nightmare.

[ Damn it, Cecily. The Nightmare's low, taunting voice ripples through her mind and she winces with the slip-up. ]

... Actually, I only came here to look for someone. [ beat ] A common friend of ours, actually: Leliana.

[ So, he's not the only one being affected by the feeling in this place. He's not sure if that's good news or bad. On the plus side, he's not being singled out. But on the other hand, it means that whatever is causing the feeling is powerful enough to target more than one person. That means that, if it were to come to a fight, he wouldn't be able to fully draw the enemy's attention away from his allies. He wouldn't be able to fully protect them.

[ ... Why is he thinking in terms of a fight? More than that: why is he thinking about his disadvantages in a fight? He gives himself a mental shake to clear his head, and the creeping fear a firm shove. He's just talking to a woman in a spooky temple. That's all. ]

Leliana? Red hair, loves shoes, crazy in a 'look at the pretty nugs' sort of way? That Leliana?

[ Deliberately ignoring the lingering chill he feels from her expression, Alistair steps closer. He's a young man, just shy of twenty-one, with the look of someone who needs a good night's sleep, but has become used to going without. His armor is fit for a king — and had belonged to one, until his half-brother was killed. Runes glow along his one-handed blade, and on his shield is a griffon. ]

I haven't seen her in here. Or heard her, but that doesn't mean anything. She's very, very quiet. Bit creepy, if you ask me.

That Leliana. [ Though, as she's coming to realize, their Lelianas differ with about ten years' time. ] She was here, in Hadriel, until... very recently. Perhaps until today.

[ One hero of the Fifth Blight vanishes, another appears. It makes her stomach turn unpleasantly. ]

Both quiet and creepy. [ Cecily confirms, adopting a halfway-smile. ] That's part of why she's such an excellent spymaster.

[ The armor doesn't go unnoticed, but she's yet to learn of any world where Alistair Theirin took the role of king, so she doesn't know better than to expect anything but him abdicating in favor of Loghain Mac Tir's girl. ]

Spymaster? As in, master of spies?

[ An odd look crosses Alistair's face. Because Leliana wasn't always a cloistered sister. She was once an Orlesian bard. And, in her own words, she had many reasons to join the Chantry.

[ Could this woman be some other bard from Leliana's past?

[ Fear pricks at him again, and his look turns to suspicion. ]

She's also an excellent companion. [ Defensive? Definitely. ] Why are you looking for her?

That's the one. [ Articulate. ] An excellent companion, too, to be sure.

[ One who placed her faith in Cecily despite their having been strangers, more or less. ]

Because she - [ There's a pause in which she mentally debates how much to reveal. ] ... She is one of my close friends, and I haven't heard from her recently. She may have been spirited back to Thedas.

[ Maker, but she hopes that isn't true. ]

And what are you doing here, of all places?

[ A close friend.... Alistair is (surprisingly) quiet for a moment as he muses on that. He still feels suspicious, defensive, afraid on Leliana's behalf. But this woman seems genuine. And can he really afford to shun a fellow Thedosian? Especially one who knows Leliana? ]

... Oh, you know. Just sticking my nose in places I really shouldn't. You'd think I'd have learned by now. [ He smiles, a bit sheepishly. ] Sorry for the 'whooooo are you and what do you waaaant with her' thing. [ His smile fades. ] There's something in here — or, maybe it's this place. Either way, it's not friendly.

[ And its strength is, quite frankly, a bit alarming. Or maybe that impression is false as well...? ]

Could we continue this talk outside the dark and scary temple? I know "outside" is just a big cave, but at least it's spacious.

I would have expected more alarm, honestly. You've been mild about having a stranger seemingly sneak up on you.

[ She looks at ease now, though... or, as much as one can in Fear's temple. ]

You'll feel that way for as long as you're here, and it'll only grow in strength. [ The Inquisitor jerks her head toward the door and turns. ] I should try another place - for Leliana, that is, but I can happily show you your way back into the city, if you'd like.

[ Armored shoulders rise in a shrug as he follows. ]

There are worse things that can do the sneaking. Demons, darkspawn, assassins, sneaky witch thieves that turn into spiders, pigeons....

[ The relief upon exiting the temple is immense. The pressure lifts from his mind, and Alistair breathes deep. He didn't realize how much his mental resistance was being tested. ]

Wow. That is much better. And that place [ with a nod to the temple ] is horrible. They should really put up a sign.

Anyway, are you sure you don't want company? We are strangers, but ... Leliana is a friend. [ Someone he knows. Someone he thinks he could figure this out with, if they put their heads together. ] ... I'd be less of a stranger if I told you my name, wouldn't I? I'm Alistair. Grey Warden.

Well, not all of those things are here - [ at the moment ] - so I would worry most of all about falling into despair at the hands of Hadriel's resident fear-mongering god.

[ They leave the temple, though, and Alistair isn't the only one to sigh with relief. ]

Most of the residents know to be careful wandering through the temples, [ She begins, chuckling, ] but you can have a pass, given you've just arrived.

[ Company. Her stomach flips sickeningly. He obviously doesn't know, doesn't know her or what she did, but that doesn't make the guilt any less painful. ]

You'll find there are no darkspawn to contend with here, Grey Warden. [ Not in her time within the caves, anyhow. ] I am Inquisitor Cecily Trevelyan. If you really can spare the time, I'd appreciate any help in tracking Leliana down. You know as well as I do how sneaky she can be.

[ If she's here, though, Cecily doubts she's hiding... ]

A fear-mongering god, huh? That's ... lovely. [ His tone says it's anything but. ] I'll bet it's a big fan of that creepy temple.

[ Alistair cocks his head to the side, looking at his newfound companion curiously. "Inquisitor" ... why does that ring a bell? Something about templars, he thinks. And a ... Nevarina Acorn? No, not that. Nevirren Acknowledgement...? Nev-something. Hm. It'll probably come to him later. ]

Of course, Inquisitor. If there's a Chantry around, I'd suggest looking there. Or perhaps a tavern. Oh, or anywhere with fancy shoes. I don't suppose there are any Orlesian shoe shops around, are there? No, that would be too easy.

Anyway, whatever you need, I'm here to help.

Ah, but would you feel the same about the hope-mongering god, or the delight-mongering one? They all have their dangers, though others are less obvious about it.

[ Though, she likes Delight. Hope is okay. ]

"Cecily," please. There is in Inquisition in Hadriel, thank the Maker.

[ No demons, either... except that one time. ]

There isn't a Chantry and our local tavern was... well, blown up. If there's a shoe store, then she hasn't told me about it.

[ That is to say: Leliana could be anywhere, and in reality, she is nowhere. ]

Fair enough. [ Time to squash that guilt of hers way, deep down. ] Off we go, then.

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Intro Log: A Stinging Letdown

c

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so late with this, sorry!

HOW DARE

CAN'T BE TAMED

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apparently i wrote this tag and didn't submit RAHHH GO ME

HOW DARE. also, handwave?