Intro Log: Welcome to Your New Home

[hadrielmods]

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for December
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: December 10th-12th
Warnings: New folks, fire everywhere, and there are still killer robots on the loose

As far too many others have in the past, you wake up on the sandy ground of the colosseum, the stone ceiling of the cave stretching high overhead. But this is probably the first time this has happened to you - and even if it isn't, things are even more chaotic than usual right now. You've come at a weird time, friend.

The first thing you might see when you wake up is a salamander, or maybe a lot of salamanders. These amphibious creatures may be kind of cute, they're also incredibly flammable. Anything that brushes up against them has a very good chance of lighting on fire, so keep your distance, and make sure all your stuff keeps its distance too. Oh, and maybe keep them from crawling into the city to light that on fire, too. And in case that isn't enough warmth for you, you can also find a collection of different socks scattered around the arena. So that's... nice.

Of course, you've come at a remarkably bad time. A whole army of evil AI robot creatures recently attacked the city, and all you newcomers have arrived just as the attack is winding down. Does that mean you're not in too much danger? Of course not! There are still Null running around, and while they will ignore you if you ignore them, the second you attack them or deliberately get in their way they'll turn on you too. On top of that, the city itself has been devastated by the attack, with buildings destroyed and people killed. Welcome to Hadriel, let's hope no one tries to use you as a distraction while you're confused and frightened.

Once things calm down, the city's going to be on a different world - but you'll still have a life to live. You can 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 December 10th-12th.
► 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

Settling In

[roseofthetyrells]

[Margaery has been splitting her time between being there for friends and fighting off random Null. she's wearing the torn and tattered remains of what used to be a very beautiful dress (the one on the right) and wielding a sword. her hair is a mess, she looks like she hasn't slept properly in weeks. that's because she hasn't.

she encounters Padme in between one of those trips from Delmar's shelter and her sewing shop. there are no Null nearby, at least none that see Margaery. if there were, they'd be bearing down on her, trying to kill her. she sees the other woman wandering around the town like she's not sure of where she is or where she's going and Margaery has to approach her and warn her of the possible dangers]

It's not safe to be out on the streets alone, at least not without a weapon. You should come with me. I'm on my way back to a shelter now.

[angelofnaboo]

[Padmé might not recognize the style of the dress, but she does know when something was once beautiful and is now ruined. Like her entire life. In a way, she sympathizes. Sometimes one must fight, no matter what.]

I'm not certain at all what's going on. I've only arrived to this strange world. I...would fight if I had a weapon, but shelter would be welcome.

[She gives what she hopes is a somewhat friendly smile. It's hard to know after all that's happened, but an attempt is made.]

I'm Padmé Amidala. Have you been here long?

[roseofthetyrells]

[Margaery chose this dress to fight in as it's the dress she died in. she has no emotional attachment to it and doesn't mind having it ruined. Margaery can relate. Margaery chose to be on the Null's kill list and doesn't regret it. however, she'd rather that the newcomers not get swept up into this war if they don't have to be]

We're currently at war with a race of mechanical beings known as the Null. Their goals are to kill the god, Hope, and kill everyone who stands against them. They've been here for two weeks and casualties have been high. If you still wish to fight, we can head to the armory and see if we can find you something suitable. If you'd rather go to shelter, I can take you there. It's your choice.

[she offers a friendly, reassuring smile in return]

It's my pleasure to meet you, Padme. My name is Margaery Tyrell, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. I've been here for, oh, four months?

[angelofnaboo]

[At least she didn't die in a medical gown? There are worse fates. Even with Padmé's life being the shambles that it is now, she can discern that there are worse fates than even her own.

Although, if Padmé were to find out what the other woman has been doing and why, she would agree with it full force. She's not adverse to being a public target to protect others.]

I'm sorry. A god?

[They don't have those.]

I would rather fight. Sitting back and being protected has never sat well with me. [That's stated with a fierce and proud smile.] I was once my people's queen and then served them in the Senate, but never by letting others do what I can help with. So, please, lead the way to the armory.

[roseofthetyrells]

[once things are settled with the Null, they can compare notes on watching their lives fall apart around them over a bottle of wine?

she didn't feel as though she had any choice but to take a stand. the Null were targeting children and the man she loves. she couldn't be silent under those circumstances]

Well, we call them gods. Each one symbolizes an emotion. Delight betrayed us all and let the Null into Hadriel.

[Margaery doesn't like calling them gods, given her bad experiences with religion just prior to her death.

she gives Padme a smile. she likes what she's hearing] Very well, then. Follow me. If we encounter any Null along the way, don't try taking them on bare-handed. I'll take care of things.

[and they're off to the armory!]

[angelofnaboo]

[A few bottles of wine, at least.]

Delight has a habit of betraying you if you give in too much anyway.

[She gives a half-hearted smile. She's not adverse to a quip from time to time. But she's quick to follow the other woman.]

Do you have any sort of blasters available? I'm a half-way decent shot with those.

[roseofthetyrells]

[unfortunately, the Speakeasy is currently closed due to Null]

You sound like the voice of some unfortunate experiences.

[she gives Padme a sympathetic look]

Blasters? Is that a sort of gun? If so, it's unlikely. Guns and the like are hard to come by here. Have you used a sword or a crossbow before?

[angelofnaboo]

[Hopefully that won't always be the case and then they can get drunk and share horror stories. Maybe it'll help them both?]

I wish I could say that isn't the case, but easy lives are myths. And public figures are hardly allowed to live easily.

[It is what it is. She's used to life being both good and bad at the same time. While she's okay with being alive, going from one war to another is tiring.]

They are guns, but I can make do with just about anything that can be used as a weapon. Luckily, I'm a quick study. I've had to be.

[roseofthetyrells]

[it shouldn't be much longer before it can open again. then they can definitely get drunk and share stories. husbands alone should keep them busy for a night]

No, there's always some crisis or another looming on the horizon. Especially when one is a public figure. Then you're not even afforded the luxury of dealing with the crisis in private.

[so is Margaery. having to pretend to be a humble penitent to the Faith of the Seven was particularly galling]

You'll have to be an especially quick study now. The Null are particularly unforgiving of mistakes or missteps.

[and, they've arrived at the armory. Margaery opens the door to reveal a wide variety of types of swords and bows]

[angelofnaboo]

[The trouble with husbands is that they don't always listen to their wives... A great deal of trouble comes from that, actually.]

Crises will always happen. Peace is something that must be worked for to keep going. Peace isn't a dormant thing. So, privacy is a luxury that one who works for peace can't really afford.

[Padmé knows that all too well. Having a private life while a public figure is impossible and impractical, especially in the middle of a war.]

I doubt I'll have trouble with that. The Senate Floor might not have come with weapons all the time, but it was not forgiving for any slip ups.

[roseofthetyrells]

[and sometimes, the husbands listen too well]

Unfortunately, my world knows little of peace. Half of Westeros has been fighting against the other half for nearly five years. Countless lives have been lost and I don't see a true path to peace as long as Cersei Lannister holds power.

[Margaery lived in the public eye to a degree, at least when it came to her charity work, but she still had relative privacy given the sharp class differences in Westeros]

Then, you'll do just fine here.

[and, time to leave the armory?]

[angelofnaboo]

[Sadly, Padmé wouldn't know anything about that. Just when her husband doesn't listen to others.]

My galaxy hasn't seen peace in many years either. Before I cam here, a war of attrition had just been ended. And not for the better.

[Now that she knows what Sheev Palpatine is, she is fairly certain that his brand of "peace" will come at a price that will cost many others their lives, just not under the flag of war.

The former Senator takes a slender sword and swings it a few times experimentally before nodding.]

I suppose I won't know if I am any good with this unless I'm tested.

Flexibility is a good quality.

[roseofthetyrells]

[Tommen listened to everyone, even his power-crazed mother]

Your galaxy? There were entire planets decimated by war? That's terrible! Did your side lose?

[Margaery is afraid for what's left of Westeros. she knows that Tommen will be leaning more heavily on his mother in the wake of Margaery's death and a powerful Cersei is an even more dangerous Cersei.

she smiles in approval of Padme's choice]

For good or for ill, there are still plenty of Null out there to test it against. Shall we?

It is. One you'll need here.

[angelofnaboo]

No one has won in the end. Every planet represented by the Galactic Senate is now being held captive by someone who was supposed to protect the concept of the Republic.

[She doesn't want to know what's going to happen in the future. Palpatine was a sand dragon in bantha clothing.

It's not a blaster, but the sword is light and she can move with it. It will do.]

It's something I've had to cultivate. It's not as if a civil war is very forgiving. And it's been years.

[roseofthetyrells]

A Republic? How does that work? I've never heard of such a thing before.

[at least Cersei never really pretended to be anything she wasn't. or when she did pretend, she wasn't very good at it]

No, they're not. They lead one to see treason lurking around every corner. Or at least they ought to, just out of self-preservation if nothing else.

[angelofnaboo]

The worlds send a representative for their people to the capital planet and they attempt to regulate laws for everyone, like taxes and slavery and the like. It worked because no planet wanted to give up his own right to soverinty but enjoyed the freedom and peace that came with traveling to other worlds with certain constants. It worked with a great deal of compromise and talk.

[She watched its death.]

I find that paranoia is as detrimental to one's life as the one who takes it.

[Because, honestly, it had been paranoia that had led to her death. And one of the greatest manipulators to ever exist.]

Besides, self-preservation hasn't really been a priority with me, if it means I can help others.

[roseofthetyrells]

That sounds complicated, but perhaps a better means of governing than the monarchy. At least better than the monarchy we have now. Anything would be better than Cersei Lannister in power.

[now she knows of Tommen's death, leaving Cersei free to seize all power]

It was impossible to survive as long as I did in King's Landing without paranoia. If the High Sparrow had listened to my suspicions, perhaps hundreds of lives could have been spared.

[but the High Sparrow was too confident in his faith and power and refused to listen]

Self-preservation used to be my only concern.

[angelofnaboo]

I know that I'm simplifying it, but with thousands of worlds needing to be taken into consideration, it is the most fair way of handling issues. The worlds are free to rule their peoples the way they want. And those that are part of the Republic are generally safer for their citizens than the Outer Rim planets.

[Tatooine is a prime example of a world outside of the Republic and all the issues that come along with that "freedom".]

Then this "High Sparrow" person is a fool. But fools will always exist, drunk on their own importance. And while self-preservation is all well and good in the long run, I cannot rely on it.

[roseofthetyrells]

...thousands of worlds? However did you keep them all straight? And if the worlds were free to rule themselves, how could you be sure that their citizens were happy under their rule? I had only seven kingdoms and they were impossible to pacify.

[they'd only just gotten the Riverlands back under control, only to hear news of an uprising in the North]

The irony of the situation is that the High Sparrow claimed to be nothing more than a humble servant of the Seven. But may I ask what you can rely on?

[angelofnaboo]

The Galactic Senate did actually monitor the Core Planets to make sure that the delegate planets actually held to the tenets. If there were violators, they could lose tax credits and trade concessions. Most of the time that was enough to keep them in line.

When it wasn't.... Negotiations would be started.

I rely on faith in people. Ultimately, they want to do good. Most people will choose to do the right thing, will help others. Not everyone is like that, of course, but there are enough to still allow my faith to live.

[roseofthetyrells]

Taxes and trade. Two underrated means of keeping places in line. Of course armies can do the trick, too, but you can't keep them there forever and all they really do is create hostility among the local populace.

Negotiations can take years.

[that's so different from Margaery's experience in Westeros, where everyone (including her) were always looking out for themselves only] I hope that you never lose that faith.

[angelofnaboo]

Everyone thinks that politicians are not able to play hard, but some of the cruelest men and women I've met hid behind the mask of civil discussions.

Armies and warriors can be seen coming head on. It is the ones that smile and whisper honey-sweet platitudes that are the better killers.

[But it's the fact that people like Obi-Wan and Owen Lars and Breha and Bail Organa exist that keeps her faith in people strong.]

I do too, but I am a realist as well. Faith is all well and good, but actions speak louder than anything else.

[roseofthetyrells]

That reminds me of Cersei and Tywin Lannister. Cersei was no warrior and Tywin took the field rarely, but both were able to kill all who stood against them with alliances and a cruel sort of cunning.

I must admit that House Tyrell has always been better at seeming the rose while concealing the thorns. It worked until our alliance with the bloody Lannisters. [she says in a tone of great disgust.

Margaery fears for Westeros while it's in the hands of Cersei, but she knows that Dany is on her way along with her dragons and she also hopes that the bastard of Eddard Stark will prove a thorn in Cersei's side]

If actions speak loudest, I shudder to think about what that implies about Westeros.

[angelofnaboo]

Seeming a rose while concealing the thorns. [That gets a half-smile from Padmé.] Something like that has been said in regards to me a time or two.

[Mostly from Separatists or their sympathizers. Before she made them pay.]

What is Westeros? Is that the name of your world?

[roseofthetyrells]

[Margaery smiles back] Indeed? Personally, I never took it as a slur. Who wouldn't want to be beautiful, yet deadly?

[if only she could have gotten the High Sparrow to listen to her when it mattered most]

It's a continent and a country. Seven kingdoms united into one. At least, that was the ideal.