It's Sushi Time!

[hadrielmods]

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for August
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: August 10th-16th
Warnings: Murdercrabs for the murdercave. A delicacy!

It's early in the morning when you feel the telltale thud of hitting hard-packed earth. Whether you're used to the feeling or not, you'll probably have a bruise or two from hitting the ground, which is another way to say Welcome to Hadriel!

In our beautiful city of Hadriel, you can find many treasures and wonders, like the creepy cat clocks, or the baby face cuckoo clocks, or some dali clocks, or... well, they're all clocks, and lucky for you, they all have different times set on their hands!

Be careful not to spend too much time lingering around with the timepieces, as there are monsters afoot! You should be careful or you'll be overrun by war crabs! These mollusk-like creatures are several feet in diameter and a few hundred pounds, so be careful when dealing with them! They're also capable of utilizing their steam-powered machinery to launch rusty grenades and musket bullets at you- don't think that close range is a good idea either, as their sharp pincers can amputate entire limbs, and they're quicker than they seem.

You might want to get out of this place as soon as possible- maybe one of the other folks around you can lend a hand? Sure, they might be just as confused as you, but there's strength in numbers, after all!

After you've 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 August 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!

Comments

harlan halliday | original | open

[ghostlocked]

((harlan has a permissions/opt out post because he's a character with some potentially triggering stuff in his backstory (and he also uses asshole magic), so i would appreciate if you'd give that a look before tagging him! mostly the opt out thing because i'd hate to make anyone uncomfortable. thank you!!))

arrival - wild magic sucks

[Okay, so, couple of things right off the bat: 1) he's had it up to here with this interdimensional kidnapping bullshit, 2) his magic seem to be in working order, if the steampunk crab thing he just withered is anything to go by, and 3) John Frusciante has somehow come along for the ride. She's squirming in his jacket pocket, probably like seconds from chewing through the lining. That's what he gets for zipping her in there, maybe, but he can't risk her zipping off into the unknown before he figures out what the hell is going on. He did manage to duck into an alcove to give that newbie guide a once-over, but that just confuses the issue, really. The guide makes it sound like he's going to be her for a while. That's some shit.

Another thing: clocks, like, fucking everywhere. The ticking is incredibly distracting. He can't focus with all this noise. Plus, none of them are even set to the right time, and his watch and both of his phones (the new one and his actual phone which he is mad about since it's not!! working!!!!) are giving him different times, too.

So... Okay, the crab things are a problem, that's a given, but! He's going to spend some time flitting around changing all the times to match the time on his newbie phone, first. Then at least the ticking might be in sync and then it will be comforting. Changing all of the times is comforting. Okay.

Of course he doesn't make much progress before a steam-powered nautilus comes crawling in his direction. Ugh, annoying. He's fought bigger and badder so he doesn't waste his time putting a lot of energy into wrecking this one with another spell, but... Being a sorcerer comes with some downsides.

Instead of casting the spell he intended, there's a loud pop and Harlan disappears. A potted plant stands in his place with a very confused kitten trying to gnaw her way out of the tangle of flowers.

Goddammit.]

city - regular magic sucks too

[A little while later, Harlan has spent like two seconds exploring the city and has decided that this is stupid and he wants to go home. Luckily, he has a spell for that.

He spends a moment looking up, considering his options. Does that look like more than 500 feet? He wanders around until he finds as high of an elevation with as low of a ceiling as he can manage. 500 feet is a lot. That's definitely less than 500 feet. If it's not and he undershoots the cavern ceiling, he can just Dimension Door back down. No big deal.

He makes sure that John Frusciante is tightly secured in his pocket (she's chewing on the zipper now oh my god), and then he's gone...

...And lands on his ass in the same spot a second later, grumbling angrily and stemming the flow of a bloody nose. That's what you get for trying to teleport into solid rock, HH.

He looks up as you approach. Oh, good, of course someone saw that. Fuck. He's not even going to give you the opportunity to make fun of him.]

What? Shut up.

wildcard!!! - wherever whenever

[Feel free to hit me up with your own prompt! Harlan will be exploring the city TOP TO BOTTOM so he could be anywhere getting up to any and all shit.]

city.

[torrefied]

I didn't say anything.

[Mello is, however, staring. A lot. Honestly, he was minding his own business, heading out to the orchard for some nice weeding work, but even in Hadriel, you don't see this sort of thing every day. A quick mental calculation, and - yep, it must be Door day.]

Let me guess - you must be new here.

[ghostlocked]

The look was enough.

[Harlan rights himself and checks his nose. Ow. It's not broken, at least. He checks his pocket too, and John Frusciante is dazed but ultimately unscathed.]

Yeah. What tipped you off?

[Duh.]

[torrefied]

[Well, for starters, Harlan, people who've been here a while typically know better than to try to teleport themselves into solid rock. Just sayin'.]

There's a certain look of befuddlement that's often found on the new arrivals. You'll probably get to recognizing it eventually.

[The cat is definitely noted, and of interest.]

You brought a cat with you?

[ghostlocked]

[HE IS INNOVATIVE. He makes a face.]

I'm not "befuddled". And "brought" is a strong word. She showed up with me. Not like I had a fucking say.

arrival

[hot_mes]

[whether or not said potted plant or the kitten can tell where it comes from, a blue bubble of aura covers them as well as the nautilus from...somewhere.]

Counter-shock!

[a black-clad figure just sort of darts in from the side and launches himself at the nautilus, and one quick zap of electricity fries the thing on the spot. Metal and gears don't hold up well to a shock like that.

Now that that's out of the way, Law gives it an idle kick in the chassis just because fuck you, that's why, and turns to where he swore he saw a person a minute ago. No person, though, just kitty.]

Huh. Odd. Oi. [moving some leaves aside to let the cat out]

yes good

[ghostlocked]

[plant!harlan hates everything about this.

The kitty manages to wriggle free with Law's help, and she darts between Law's legs to bound off into the fray. Bye.

And a second later, there's another pop and Harlan reappears, his hair all tousled from Law messing with the plant. Blurgh.]

What the hell, man? [He stands up and runs a hand through his hair to un-fuck it. God, the potted plant thing is like his least favorite magical switcheroo. He'd rather cast fireball on himself.

...

Wait.]

Shit, where'd the cat go? [He looks around, checks his pockets. No dice. Great.]

[hot_mes]

[he really shouldn't be startled by plants turning into people. He still is. Law recoils for a second and then straightens himself out, frowning deeply for no apparent reason.]

That way. [thumbing over his shoulder] Is it important?

[ghostlocked]

[wHAT]

Fucking--yes, she's important. Jesus christ. [He starts off after her.

It takes him a moment to spot her because she's very lil, but aha! She is... in the middle of two large crab monsters. Amazing. He takes another moment to sigh and swear vehemently under his breath before trudging off into the thick of things.

Oh, right. That guy he was just talking to.]

This is your fault, so you want to distract them or something?

arrival!

[aroundthecoroner]

[Michael is busy running for his life when he spots another person. Another person who appears to be facing down one of the big shellfish dudes. Unarmed.

Right, okay. Great idea.

He's gearing himself up to shout something when said guy vanishes with a loud noise and reappears- no, wait. He's replaced. With a plant. With a cat in it. Uh????

There isn't really protocol for this in his personal life handbook, but neither is there protocol for things like crab-tanks and ghost monsters so... Geronimo, he guesses.

Michael diverts course and makes a quick dash for the plant, scooping the pot up, kitten and all, before continuing to run. He can't just leave the cat there, and the plant seems... important, somehow. So now it's coming with him. Congratulations Harlan.]

oh my god

[ghostlocked]

[Harlan may be a plant, but boy howdy is he still aware of his surroundings. He wishes he wasn't. Oh god this jackass piCKED HIM UP. He has a few seconds to scream internally before the spell wears off and Michael gets an armload of flailing grown-ass man.

Who is also swearing at him.

Loudly.]

you asked for this

[aroundthecoroner]

[Michael wasn't sure what exactly the plant was, the guy himself or, like, some kind of portkey/switcheroo situation, and since this place seems to run on bullshit logic (see: giant crab tanks, floating nautilus monsters, et al) he still hasn't decided or even tried to decide by the time the spell wears off and answers the question for him.

Well. Fuck.

Michael isn't prepared to carry an entire human person, so the sudden weight completely throws his balance off and down he goes. He was holding the pot in both arms, sort of bear hug style, so now he's just... on the floor, hugging a guy who is now on his chest, having knocked all the air out of it. The pinnacle of his life, obviously.

He retracts his arms immediately, mostly stunned and wheezing as he tries to get his breath back.]

[ghostlocked]

[Harlan would absolutely be pointing and laughing if he was spectating this garbage fire of a rescue attempt, but since it's happening to him, he's pissed. And thoroughly freaked. Suddenly he's on the ground, laying on top of some fucking stranger whose got his arms wrapped around him. The arms are off the table pretty much instantly, but that does nothing to make this situation more palatable. In short: Fuck this.

He rolls off the guy and scrambles away as fast as he can, only climbing to his feet after he's put a good few feet of distance between them. Even then, his legs are unsteady. He swallows hard, trying to get his breathing under control so he can tear this jackass a new one.

He doesn't exactly manage it, but he's impatient.]

What the fuck is your problem?

arrival

[occupiesvitalregions]

[A young man with a big sword was running Harlan's way to help with that approaching crab monster, when Harlan suddenly pops out of view and is left behind a plant and a cat. Prussia stops dead, totally bewildered, but he doesn't have time to think about it. There's something cute in danger!

He scoops up the plant and cat together with one arm, and brandishes the sword against the crab monster with the other. There's no way a guy his size should be able to swing a broad sword one-handed, but he's managing it.]

Wh-What the hell?! I gotta get you out of here!

[ghostlocked]

[Thanks for acknowledging how cute he is, Prussia, but pUT HIM DOWN!! Being a potted plant means he's immobile for the moment, but in the short span between getting plucked off the ground and returning to his regular body, he does manage to angrily rustle his leaves a little.

John Frusciante, on the other hand, wrestles free and crawls up Prussia's sleeve. You now have a cat on your shoulder, dude.

...And a very upset man tucked under your arm. Nice sword, but can you carry Harlan one-handed too???]

[occupiesvitalregions]

[The cat on his shoulder is okay. Actually it's great. He loves this.

The man suddenly under his arm is a different story. Actually, he seems to carry him just fine, but the sudden transformation does throw off his balance a bit and he has to stagger to a stop.

Prussia drops Harlan, but then helps haul him to his feet a second later so they can start running again.]

Either once these things are dead or we get outta here, I want an explanation.

[ghostlocked]

[Sorry, Prussia, Harlan is absolutely not accepting help once he's on the ground. He shoves the other guy away, having had quite enough touching for one day.

In fact, he'd just teleport out of here to quietly regain his composure on, like, the other side of the arena, but this asshole's also stolen his cat. Harlan isn't going anywhere... unless Prussia tries to run away, in which case Harlan will follow, yelling.]

Fuck off. Hand over the kitten. [He holds a hand out. Give. Immediately.]

city!

[pocketspa]

[Oh, Taako absolutely saw that, and is also laughing his ass off. On one hand, god, watching people eat shit here is wonderful. On the other, that looks familiar. Not quite his wheelhouse, but with a quick detect magic, it's easy to tell what here's made of the Gods and what here's a little more local.]

Oh man, that's a classic. The ol' eating shit to a cave ceiling thing.

[ghostlocked]

[...At least he's not the first person to do that. But still!!!]

Fuck off. It was worth a shot. How else am I supposed to get out of here?

[He's not buying the whole "you're not" thing just yet. He's shimmied out of worse in his day.]

[pocketspa]

Uhhh, you're not, hombre.

[Too bad, that's his answer. Taako folds his arms, looking pretty smug to finally be the dude who knows things around here vs the guy who did try to bust straight out on day 1 with a little bit of panic.]

Not unless you get picked by the lottery of who-fuckin-knows-what. Otherwise you're down here with the rest of us.

that icon jesus christ

[ghostlocked]

Yeah, whatever. [Harlan stands, brushing himself off and holding his sleeve to his nose.]

This isn't the first time I've been carted off to some shitty alternate dimension. There's gotta be a way out. There always is.

City

[whistlewhilstyouwork]

Well. Sounds like that went well

[Whistler can't see what just happened, but certainly the symphony of sounds that come with someone making a fool of themselves is enjoyable even without sight. He leans a bit on his cane with a lazy lopsided grin]

Need a hand?

[ghostlocked]

Ugh. [He stands up all by himself and clamps his shirtsleeve over his nose. He'll just magic away the bloodstains later.]

It went fine. How deep underground are we? [Maybe if he could get higher...]

[whistlewhilstyouwork]

Honest truth? No idea.

[Whistler seems entirely unbothered by it though. Underground, above ground, to a blind man its not much different, he's not all that picky about scenery. The god stuff is really more concerning, honestly]

No one knows. I would say 'spare yourself the trouble of trying to magic your way out of here' there are plenty of people with those tricks up their sleeves and all of them have failed, but I guess everyone's got to give it their own go, yeah?

[ghostlocked]

[Cool, the answer he super didn't want to hear. Awesome. Thanks.]

So, what, I'm just supposed to hang out here until the end of time? No thanks, buddy. This isn't my first time getting teleported to some shitty foreign plane, and it won't be the last.