Intro Log: Rock This City

[hadrielmods]

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for January
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: January 10th-14th
Warnings: New folks, rockin' dudes made of rock, and collectible friends!

This time, it's different.

There's no cave, no stone walls looming up around you and overhead, no stifling air or artificial light- not that you'd appreciate it, seeing as to how you've probably never been here before. And still, when you land facefirst on the dirt ground of the colosseum, you may not quite appreciate all the improvements and steps we've had to take to get here- after all, you're still surrounded by strangers in a crumbling city on an alien planet in the middle of nowhere.

Oh, and you're being attacked by Earth Elementals. These creatures are tall, between seven to ten feet, and made of solid rock, capable of punching through all the squishy bits of you- and for whatever reason, they definitely want to start punching. They're incredibly strong and, seeing as to how they're enchanted alive and have no internal organs, they're very difficult to kill.

But don't let that scare you off. For all the collectors in you, you can also find a very special array of beanie babies all scattered at the ground at your feet. Do you know that some of these things will be worth a lot of money someday? Better find the rarest one and stockpile it while you can! You might run into the rainbow crab, the platypus, or the sought-after bald eagle, or many more! Be sure to never take the tag off and never ever let anyone play with them so they don't lose value.

Once you've got your kids' college fund squared away, it's time to start exploring! 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 January 10th-14th.
► 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

[circumitus]

[Ah yes, Rey knows that sentiment all too well.]

We called it "Battle-ready". It's the sort of stuff some people would drink to get themselves amped before combat.

Not that they'd get blitzed and then go pick up a gun. But it works fast and has a low risk for hangovers.

[igniting]

[Yeah, no one ever really bothered to teach Aloy tact. That's something she's never considered before, and she frowns at him, brow furrowing.]

Do you know how they did it?

[hasitsthorns]

[ That's, uh. That's actually exactly what she's going to do. At least, in this case, there's no worry about offense taken; she's had to awkwardly turn down her fair share of meals since she got here. ]

Ah, it's- Complicated. Uhm. [ Rose knows, but it can always be a little tricky explaining to other people just what yokai are. What that means. ]

In my world, ki is life energy. Everyone has it. Us yokai are made of it, actually, but ours is tainted by negative human emotions. That's what makes us demons. My people are born of fear. Specifically, the fear of walking alone in mountain passes at night. If someone trips, we eat them. It's just... what we were born to do. [ Not the most fun of existences. ] In some weird roundabout way, it's almost like keeping people safe? Enough of them get eaten, they invest in better shoes or walk in groups.

We don't have to eat them to survive though. We used to hunt sheep, I was told, but then... people hunted us almost to extinction because of us eating their livestock. So we went into hiding but then continued to eat people as a kind of 'fuck you' to them, I guess. My parents hated humans. I never really got it though.

[circumitus]

[Poor Rosie. There is nothing worse to Rey than having to turn away meals.

[She's more thoughtful as Rose explains, only making the comment of:] That's a... very specific fear.

[But cultures are weird, and Rey's never lived in the mountains before to know what sort of superstitions might come from there. Her mouth tightens into a thin line, processing it.]

You know, a couple years ago that all would've sounded like complete horseshit to me. Maybe it's a sign that you've been here too long when that stuff almost makes perfect sense. [She sighs. That's not necessarily a bad thing, really.] So, you're demons that could also live off animals. Guess it's not an option to hunt some of the more palpable creatures that come from the Door, is it? It has to be human?

[Otherwise she figures Rose would have done so by now.]

[hasitsthorns]

Could be worse. Could be an akaname. Those are yokai that lick the gunk that collects in bathtubs and bathrooms.

[ Japanese mythology is a trip, Rey. ]

I... tried, in Haven, to eat the monsters in the tunnels there.

[ It worked for a boy there who was something called a Ghoul. He said it didn't taste quite the same - a bit disgusting, but digestible. Rose had hoped, but- Guess it wouldn't be that easy, would it? ]

It didn't work. I think it's because I'm born specifically of human fear that it has to be human.

[circumitus]

[Rey makes a face.] Sounds like people are afraid of some weird shit.

[She doesn't get it, but it's... Welp, it's something.]

You were born from the fear, but you're still able to have a family?

[Grimacing, Rey finally retrieves a glass of water from the sink for Rose. She's still trying to wrap her head around it, but it's easier to do so now than it would have been a long time ago. She pauses.] Um. You can at least stay hydrated from water, right? You don't need the blood of your enemies or anything?

[Sorry, Rose.]

[requiemshark]

No. We're working on it.

[He lifts his chin, defiant.]

We've got good people here, good fighters. We'll be all right.

[igniting]

[She nods. She doesn't doubt it, considering the entire town hasn't been overrun.]

There are machines at home—old military robots. They can do the same thing. If you can show me one of the machines you fought, I might be able to figure out how they managed it.

[requiemshark]

Would, if they hadn't taken the bodies with the.

[Like he said. Smart.

Ephemera thinks for a moment.]

I got some footage from my helmet cam, if that would help. Not a lot, but it's better than nothing.

[survivorsguilt]

Jo!

[She calls back, heading in the other girl's direction. She doesn't understand that the panic in Jo's voice comes not only from the threat of the Elementals, but also from the state of herself.]

Careful! They're not fast, but they're fucking tanks!

[igniting]

[Another nod.]

It can't hurt.

[survivorsguilt]

[Nate.

Her gut sinks and she's happy all at once, and it's really weird and a lot, and too much going on in her head while they're in the middle of being attacked, so Ellie shoves it right down. Not now.

She dodges left, skates down low and skids over dirt. Her palms tear open on the rock, but it's a hell of a lot better than being crushed or bludgeoned or whatever.]

Yeah, no fucking kidding!

[He doesn't have to tell her twice. Ellie follows his lead, assuming he's leading her to a better vantage point, not an escape.]

Do you have anything- I don't know, anything big and crushy? A giant hammer?

[requiemshark]

You got a phone on you? Give me a sec and I'll figure out how to send it to you.

[Ephemera glances at his helmet. Right. Okay. This shouldn't be hard, right?]

[igniting]

[Aloy taps the tiny silver triangle next to her ear.]

Can you send it to this instead?

[requiemshark]

[Ephemera squints.]

Is that a com link?

[igniting]

Uh... Sort of.

[Probably.]

[requiemshark]

Huh. Okay.

[Ephemera puts his helmet, fussing with the radio. He's not an engineer, but thankfully Charon tech is nearly idiot proof. His HUD picks up an open frequency and after that, it's not difficult to send a burst message.]

Try that?

[odinbolt]

... You're right.

( Serah laughs a little at the reminder, at her own train of thought. It can't be changed at home and stressing over it just makes things worse. She has a future to save. And a new city to explore. )

Are you gonna stay here?

( By the temple, by herself? Serah's thinking it's time she moves on and sees more. )

[igniting]

[Aloy's Focus picks up on the file almost instantly, and from there, it only takes a split second to transfer.]

It worked. Thanks.

[And now to watch it. A body would be better, but hey, beggars can't be choosers.]

[odinbolt]

( So, no paradoxes, huh... That seems in line with everything the guide says. That there's no rhyme or reason for her to be here. Perhaps even snatched out of the Historia Crux and dropped somewhere different.

... She's not sure. The Historia Crux was enough of a bewildering prospect, and now this. )

I see... Thank you, um... What's your name?

[requiemshark]

[Success. Ephemera pulls his helmet off again.]

Anything like your world?

[so_dark_a_road]

"Humble Elf, that's a good one. " He smiles. And he does know Atem chose to get involved. The young man is a brave man, and he has strong feelings regarding what is the right thing to do.

"Sure, what would you like to learn?" He's got lots of skills. And he'd tell Atem he's drinking too fast -- but teaching moderation is not really his forte!

"You're probably right, that's probably exactly what happened." Sounds exactly like him! "Maybe besides being a smith and a soldier, he was a sort of freelance negotiator? I guess that's what free spirits do when they become socially responsible."

"Heh. I wasn't expecting thanks. But I'm glad you enjoyed the food. The cookies weren't mine, they were my friend Sansa Stark's, but the rest was whatever I thought would be good for alleviating the boredom of recovery. And good, we'll arrange for dinner at the Elfhouse!" He sips, too. Can't fall behind when others are getting drunk. "Yes, actually, I know about burgers. Not from my world, but from listening to some of Rey's customers talking about food. Burgers seem to have been a favorite in many universes. And in yours, too?"

Wait a minute, burgers in ancient Egypt? But of course, Curufin doesn't know anything about Atem's foray into the modern world.

[paragonbrosca]

[She ticks off her fingers while saying names.]

Zevran, Alistair, Morrigan, Sigrun...and several more. Most of them were with me during the Fifth Blight, so I know I can trust them with anything. Zevran's an elf with an ass that won't quit and a sexy accent but he's also a damn good assassin. Alistair was my fellow Grey Warden; now he's a king, but he's like the only non-shady royal I know and he was with my from the beginning. Morrigan is the Witch of the Wilds. She's pretty prickly, but we ended up getting along because both of our mothers are shit. Sigrun grew up in Dust Town, like me, and I recruited her for the Grey Wardens after the Blight. They're all good people to have at my back. Right, Barkspawn?

[Barkspawn whines a little; he misses them, too.]

[paragonbrosca]

Given that sudden whine, Barkspawn certainly seems to understand quite well. Aren sighs and leans over to pet him. "You know that's not going to happen here, boy. Sorry, I probably shouldn't have asked. Calm down, okay? Go back to your toy."

Looking over, she smirks a little. "Yep, that's its actual name. There was a guy selling them in Orzammar when we visited, and so I surprised her with one before we left. I dunno where she got the name, but they both seem happy, so whatever."

[igniting]

[Aloy frowns as she watches the clip on her Focus' interface, then replays it.]

Well, that's... Something. I've seen weapons like that before, but the way they change shape...