Intro Log: Fly, My Pretties!

[hadrielmods]

What: The intro log for May
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: May 10th-14th
Warnings: Flying monkeys! New friends! Prosthetic limbs!

Here in Hadriel, we do introductions right. That means dumping you on the ground of an old Roman-style Colosseum with a bunch of scary monsters and also a bunch of weird shit. Your monster of the day happens to be Winged Monkeys, more commonly known as flying monkeys, from the Wizard of Oz and affiliated stories!

As you may have been able to guess, these creatures can fly and they're rather intelligent- intelligent enough to wield spears and daggers as crude weapons and strong enough to pick someone right up off the ground and fly with them to a perch, where they'll... you know, stab them with their knives and stuff.

Why? We don't know. It's Hadriel.

Just in case you lose a couple of limbs in the process of escaping these critters, we've got you covered. Scattered around the newbies are prosthetic limbs for various body parts. These limbs are all fully functional, even if they look a bit... odd, so if you've lost an arm or two, or a leg, or even a pinkie finger, feel free to grab one and try to figure out how to use it!

Good job dealing with those monkeys! It's kind of a weird thing to be threatening, but clearly someone was afraid of them once. Once you're done, 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 May 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

[magician_king]

You're not human?

[He hadn't realized he'd only been listening with one ear until Kelson goes and says that. Then Quentin's full attention snaps over to him.]

What are you?

[kingforboth]

[Kelson still had to fight the urge to backpedal. He was proud of his heritage, and there was no one here who was going to drug him, chain him to a stake and set it on fire. On the contrary, people here seemed to be okay with magic. Especially this man, who openly used it.]

I'm Deryni. We can use magic, and have certain abilities on my world.

[and sensitivities, but he wasn't exactly going to spread that around.]

[magician_king]

In my world, humans can use magic too. Merely being a magician wouldn't make you a different species. It's not the same for you?

[He asks, eyebrows lifting. Weirder things have happened than for a simple genetic propensity to do spellwork being incorrectly identified as non-human. But it pays to check before assuming.]

[kingforboth]

[Kelson shakes his head, wishing not for the first time that he had more of a magical education and knew more.]

No. Not usually at least. Some humans can have magic like abilities turned on, but it's not common.

There are humans in an area of my kingdom who have what they call the 'second sight', but I honestly don't know if they really are just humans with the ability to assume limited magical abilities, or if they're descendants of Deryni who simply went into hiding.

[He paused.]

It was not a good thing to be Deryni in my kingdom for... a very long while. My own mother didn't know what she was until she tried to defend me with her own magic.

But your saying your....world? kingdom? is populated by humans who are capable of doing magic?

[magician_king]

It's a world with many countries and kingdoms on it. A tiny fraction of that population can perform magic. They get training, and then return home and live their lives, discretely.

[You could never say 'populated by.']

Probably more people who are capable of magic but don't pursue it, or qualify for training, or have the discipline to make the stuff work. It doesn't manifest accidentally, for us.

[kingforboth]

[If only Kelson had a better understanding of genetics, he could have given Quentin more information. As it was, it comes down to sets of genes, not an entirely different species.]

Your world and mine sound similar in that respect at least. Those who are Deryni and know it are able to get training, although the breadth of that training is extremely variable.

You have training then, of course?

[Kelson looked rather interested, Quentin touching upon something he could only dream about. Getting actual training, forming schola, educating his people and his human citizens so that they were both no longer a danger to one another.]

Are the humans in your world not afraid of those who can do magic?

[Then again, perhaps the humans in Quentin's world never lived under magical despotic rule so, there was that.]

[magician_king]

The magical community exists, and tains, in secret. The rest of the world believes it's fantasy.

[Which is awfully convenient, and probably the best system all around.]

We have universities. A five year program, intensive and secretive.

[That he taught at one, he doesn't mention. It ended a little too badly to go into.]

[kingforboth]

[The mere fact that Quentin can call it a 'magical community' is like music to Kelson's ears. It's everything he's wanted. Except for the secret part. So he almost breathes his next words.]

You have a community. And universities.

From what I've been able to recover from records, we used to as well. But most of the knowledge about them or what they taught has been destroyed.

[magician_king]

The nonmagical world found out, I take it?

[The only thing he can imagine wrecking that kind of destruction.]

So you really are a hunted subspecies.

[kingforboth]

[Kelson shook his head.] It was never a secret. But when the Festil's were overthrown and my ancestors restored, humans forgot that not all Deryni were responsible for their crimes. People have short memories.

2/3 of the population were killed, most went into hiding.

I guess you could say the nonmagical world had enough. Combine it with anti-magic religious rhetoric and Gwynedd was ripe for anti-magic backlash.

[He looked at Quentin for a moment.] I should be preaching tolerance and unity but if separation is working for you, don't let fail. The price for peoples lives is too high.

[magician_king]

We wouldn't. It's cleaner, more convenient, and safer for everyone.

[He's aware that his world is extremely lucky, that their system has been all but perfect.]

There are magicians who enforce those laws.

[kingforboth]

[Kelson wished he knew more about what it was like in the old times, so he had something to compare what Quentin was telling him.]

I realize we just met, and you have no reason to trust me or share your knowledge, but would you be willing to teach me what you know? I'd like to be able to start something similar in Gwynedd, and we're lacking in some of the knowledge or resources to make it happen.

[Much knowledge was lost. But not all. And there were factions who would prefer to keep the king as he was, partially trained and hopefully more easy to manipulate. Kelson was doing everything he could to say 'fuck you' and do the opposite.]

[magician_king]

I'm sorry. You're right, we have just met, and I don't know you or trust you.

[He answers, quietly. A younger Quentin would feel differently about this, would probably have had the good sense not to tell him anything but would have handled it by agreeing to and then just passive aggressively hiding or being busy for the rest of the time they'd know each other.

But he's thirty now, and he's been around the block, and has learned a thing or two about the difference between politeness and respect.]

And, I don't intend to be here that long. If I am doing foundational magical work, it'll be on tearing my way back out of here.

[kingforboth]

[At least Quentin had been diplomatic about it. Kelson was disappointed, but no more so than he had been for the last few years, knowing that knowledge was out of his reach because others would not trust.]

Well then I wish you good luck.

[And because Quentin wasn't sharing information, Kelson felt no need to share with him his own work regarding the Door/Portal.]

Would you really leave without sharing information on the exit?

[Kelson watched the older man, trying to gauge just what kind of a person he was.]

[magician_king]

What?

[He asks, looking over at him, now not altogether politely or respectfully.]

No. And why would you imply that?

[kingforboth]

[Well that was a mild relief at least. Kelson took a breath, trying to think to form his words, unlike a few seconds ago.]

I honestly don't know you. I don't know what you hold integral to your self. I don't even know your name, sir. Perhaps I should have phrased it differently. I fear this place has degraded my diplomatic skills.

[magician_king]

[Quentin draws in a deep breath, lets it out, and pointedly does not launch into a lecture on the fact that he was comfortable asking for magic lessons before knowing his name. But this is a small world, and they should probably make an effort to start out on the right foot.]

I'm Quentin. The traditions around sharing and teaching magic in my world won't prevent me from helping people get out of here.

[kingforboth]

[Kelson could probably use a lecture, he's been stuck here for two months and in typical teenage fashion he thinks he knows a lot more than he thinks he does.]

Kelson. And I do hope you succeed. I've heard people have been here for a while, some even years.

[magician_king]

Years? Seriously.

[That's not good news. He starts walking again.]

Who, do you know? I'd love to talk to them.

[kingforboth]

[No, it was not good news when he heard it as well. Dismal in fact. He didn't know what Quentin had waiting for him, but Kelson had a kingdom, and he couldn't do his job sitting around here.]

Henry Percy for one. I believe he's involved with the City Guard. Maglor and Curufin have both been here a while as well.

[Kelson follows the man as he starts walking again.]

[magician_king]

Thanks. I'll ask them.

[And, pausing at a particularly large building;]

This must be a temple?

[He can't tell whose, just by looking at it.]

[kingforboth]

[Kelson looks at it, he hasn't been in any of the temples himself but after two months he vaguely knows which ones they are, if by word of mouth if not actual experience.]

That's Confusion I believe. I can't say I have any experience, or want, to address her.

[Kelson was still trying to decide between Hope, Fear, and now Sorrow, to start proceedings with]

[magician_king]

Oh. This is actually probably dead right for me.

[He says, approaching the steps, at nearly a jog. He's lived half his life in this temple, it feels like.]

Will I feel it begin to manifest?

[kingforboth]

[Kelson starts to hang back as Quentin approaches the temple.]

The only time I was in the vicinity of one of them was when Sorrow used these devices to communicate. I couldn't tell you, and I would hate to guess.

[magician_king]

Hm.

[Making his way up the steps, drawing in a breath.]

Confusion?

[Checking his heart to see if he's confused. Always, but not more than usual.]