hadriel_logs | Intro Log: Puddle Jumpers

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Intro Log: Puddle Jumpers

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for September
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: September 10th-13th
Warnings: Fresh meat, lots of rain and angry ogres

If the rain on your face isn't enough to wake you up in the colosseum, maybe the thundering footsteps and- well, thunder- is. The first thing that you may notice is that it's incredibly wet around here, with winds that could knock you over if you aren't careful and thunder that brings with it a torrent of constant rainfall.

That's all fine though, because the gods saw fit to help you out on your way in and now everyone will be waking up wearing a rain coat! These coats are a little odd, and some of them are downright silly, but we trust that you'll make do. Of course, a few of the raincoats have additional sleeves, neck holes, and entirely too many buttons as well- but hey, it's the best we could do.

Wait, what was that about thundering footsteps? Oh right, as you're navigating your new fashion choices, there are some monsters afoot who will want nothing more than to grind you into a pulp and eat you- well, if you're organic, that is. If you're not organic, then they still want to grind you to a pulp, but maybe not so much the eating part.

Ogres are from many fantasy stories, but these in particular are from the Dragon Age series. With incredible strength and stamina and massive horns, fangs, and a bloodlust for violence, these monsters won't stop until everyone around them is a blood smear on the ground. They're also not too happy about this rainfall either, so be careful not to slip in the puddles as you run away from them!

Once you've splashed around a bit, feel free to run off into the stormy abyss of our islands. 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 September 10th-13th.
► 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[to say that Jane is startled is an understatement. she'd holed herself up in her apartment as soon as she got back from getting groceries and she wasn't expecting any company. she really wasn't expecting the company that she just got, what looks like a robot in a cow poncho. that's got to be a new record for weird, even by this place's standards.

man, is she sick of hitting new records for weird. just once, she'd like to have a perfectly normal day in this place. but she's not going to be a total bitch and kick him out, it's raining like hell outside and it's probably not a good idea for robots to be in the rain. she thinks? whatever, she'll be hospitable]

That's good. I don't mean you any harm, either.

[she steps forward, hand extended for a handshake]

The name's Alice. Alice Ayres. Who're you?

[ The human seems welcoming, under the circumstances, and DiMA is visibly relieved for that. He hesitates at the offered hand before extending his own -- it's not quite a hand, unfortunately. More the exposed metal structure of what used to be one, now just hinged metal pieces that resemble a skeleton. They're cold as they wrap around Alice's hand, though he's careful to keep his grip gentle. It's been a long time since he shook hands with anyone. ]

My name is DiMA. I've just arrived, and have no shelter from this storm.

[well, she's trying? and she's kinda glad she is, given the relieved expression on his face. she remembers what it was like, showing up here and not knowing where to go or what to do a little too well. it sucks. so if she can make it a little easier on someone else, why not?]

Well, it's nice to meet you, DiMA. And you can stay here, if you want? I don't have another bedroom, but I think I have enough blankets that you can crash on the couch.

[ Humans aren't generally so accepting of synths in their midst, this woman is throwing DiMA for a bit of a loop but he's not looking a gift horse in the mouth. So to speak. He's never actually seen a horse, just knows the expression. He won't question her motives, at least for now -- he wants to believe that people can be good and the less convincing required to remain inside the better. ]

That's very kind of you, Alice. I don't require blankets, just a roof for the time being. I can be out of your way as soon as the wind dies down and I don't have to worry so much about these old circuits getting fried.

[ He's debating taking off the wet poncho before coming further into her apartment, as it's dripping quite a bit, but underneath he's... even more visibly mechanical. For now he simply lowers the hood to see her reaction, revealing that his face is basically all the plastic skin left on his head. The rest is a mess of wires and protruding components that pretty much anyone could assume shouldn't get wet. ]

I would also like to make a... call, if you don't mind.

[Jane has had to get used to all kinds of stuff she never would have thought possible in her time here. actually, she's still not used to it, she's just getting better at coping with it]

That's fine, I've got room enough for that. And believe me, I get it. I've been out in that, it's no fun. In fact it's like the opposite of fun.

[her eyes widen slightly at seeing the wires and components, but that's about it. she doesn't drop her friendly demeanor]

Sure. Of course I don't mind. D'you need to use my phone or have you found yours yet?

I do hope you aren't also concerned about electrocution on a trip to the store. Does it storm like this regularly here?

[ His voice is somewhat wry, in a subtle way. It's quiet old man humor, really. ]

I found mine. And the guide on it. [ Actually, that's a good opening -- maybe she's being so friendly because she recognizes him, in a way? ] Would you perhaps know the man who wrote it?

[she laughs] Not usually, but boy was I worried about it this time! And no, not really. It's usually cloudy and dreary and sometimes it drizzles, but this? This is new.

[and her voice is decidedly wry]

Okay, good. But, y'know, if you have any questions..? [she shakes her head no] Can't say that I do. I do know he's in charge of the Guard, though. I've seen his posts on the network.

Do you think it will improve soon, then? Either way I'm going to have to look into being properly waterproofed.

[ He doesn't sound very hopeful about that -- it had been hard enough to maintain him back in Acadia, and this place doesn't look like it has a wealth of synth compatible parts. Appearances can be deceiving, of course, DiMA just isn't holding his metaphorical breath. ]

The obvious questions, probably. It was very informative, I'm just still wrapping this old brain around the fact that apparently such a thing is possible. [ But really, he's more interested in his brother. ] In charge of the Guard? So Nick has been here for some time.

It's hard telling. I've never been in a storm like this before. And yeah, waterproofing sounds like a good idea.

[she tries to put some reassurance into her voice, but she's not used to the whole being helpful thing, so it's debatable how successful she is. but this robot--guy seems nice, so she's trying?]

Yeah, that might take a while. I've been around the past three months. . . no, four! And I'm still figuring everything out. So don't worry if you still find yourself asking questions later. [and she nods] Apparently? People seem to really like him, from what I've heard.

I don't spend much time out of doors these days, back home. Certainly not during weather.

[ His emphasis is wry, but at least if there's housing available here he might be able to avoid damage easily enough once he's had a chance to settle. Just like home. The ongoing maintenance he requires will be more of a challenge without his beloved Faraday.

He shouldn't dwell on things he can't predict or change, though, and so moves on. ]

Do they? That's both surprising and not at once. Nick is a kind soul, of course, but people don't usually take too kindly to folks like us. Is most of the population here human?

Oh. [she gestures to her head in a "duh" motion] Yeah, I'd imagine not.

[he should be able to find an apartment with no problem. as for the rest, Jane wouldn't be the best one to ask. she knows nothing about science and even less about the scientists here]

Yeah, they do. Most of the people here are human, yeah, but here? Everyone's people. They don't judge 'em on are they human, are they an elf, are they a robot, stuff like that.

[ DiMA just blinks at Alice when she says that, because it sounds too good to be true. A whole city where no one holds anyone's nature against them? He seems to realize that he's staring after a moment, a slow smile spreading across his old face. ]

...that sounds ideal. What I've been waiting and working for, in my small way, for over a century. I'm sure there are still some prejudices to shake, but people manage to coexist peacefully?

[she has to admit that it's one of the few good things about this place, here people get to live in relative peace. sure, she's heard rumors about the occasional scuffle, but so far as she knows nobody gets seriously hurt]

It is kinda nice, despite the whole trapped in a small town thing. And for a whole century? Really? Wow. I bet you have some stories to tell. But, sure, there might be the odd person here or there who finds some reason to look down on somebody else, but no one takes 'em seriously.

Trapped in a small town isn't the worst thing. But then, I've sought seclusion due to the persecution of my kind so my perspective is a bit different.

[ This place sounds lovely, honestly. DiMA isn't terribly phased by monsters, those threats exist where he's from too. As for what it seems the gods put them through... well. It will likely be balanced by the apparent freedom he'll have to interact with the population. He looks pretty pleased by Alice's description of the people here. ]

I probably have many stories, yes. Is there anything in particular you're curious about?

It's a little weird for me. I'm used to huge cities with a lot of people. And I guess that makes sense, sticking close to small towns with people you know are gonna be cool.

[Jane's not sure she'd used the word lovely for this place. she's trying to adapt as best as she can, but she can't help the fact that she's painfully ordinary person from a painfully ordinary world. it makes it harder for her to adapt to Hadriel's oddities and monsters and emotional fuckery]

What's it like in your world? I'm guessing it's way different from mine.

It must be -- the very fact that you mention huge cities is different. Those don't exist to me, haven't for hundreds of years. Before my time, the Great War caused a nuclear holocaust, the collapse of civilization and global climate change that wiped out most of humanity. The fallout still threatens life over two hundred years later. Not just for the lingering radiation, but the mutated creatures it created and the effects it's had on the surviving population. Societally speaking, it's a bit of a nightmare.

[ Obviously, though, he's not human. He only has to deal with some aspects of the harsh world left behind. ]

I live on a small island in the north, mostly populated by humans who accepted me and my contributions to their survival enough to let me build a save haven for other escaped synths with free will. It's still not peaceful, not at all, but for the most part the humans accept us as people. So I continue to help them. It gives me hope that perhaps someday we'll be able to coexist with the rest of the Commonwealth.

[wow, that's a lot to take in]

...damn. A nuclear holocaust and global warming wiping out most of humanity? That's. Pretty messed up. How did it all happen? I mean, a Great War, sure, but who started it? And mutants? That sounds creepy.

[Jane would be done for in that kind of environment. she doesn't know anything about survival, unless you count the clubs she performed at]

That sounds much better. Humans aren't all jerks. But you said escaped synths? Do most people have you guys as, well [she tries to come up with a better word for it, but can't] slaves? If that's it, it's seriously screwed up.

I don't know much besides that it happened, honestly. I believe the whole world was fighting over the last remaining natural resources, the Resource War lasted about ten years -- each nation invading other countries to claim what they had. We don't know who launched their nuclear weapons first, only that everyone else followed suit. Two hours of humanity nuking each other with their entire arsenals, and that was enough to destroy everything. To turn the whole planet into a wasteland.

[ It may have been before his time, but humanity hasn't really changed much, a fact that DiMA knows all too well. He sounds sad as he recounts the tale. ]

At least many communities were prepared for it. The Vaults could hold up to a thousand people each, but they weren't exactly just for protection. They were also government experiments, and many failed. Some people did manage to survive on the outside, but they were altered by the radiation.

[ As for her last question..... well. ]

Not exactly. We are slaves, but not to humans in general. Only to the Institute, who created us. To the rest of humanity, we are a threat. Weapons sent to destroy them. They fear us.

Edited 2018-10-05 01:50 (UTC)

[Jane takes a long, long moment to digest]

...yeah. I can see that happening. People in my world at least? They're selfish. They're willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead of the other guy and fuck anybody else who gets in the way. They'll just take and take and take 'til you don't have anything left to be taken. And if they can't have it, they'll ruin it for everyone else out of spite. Sounds like your world's past could be my world's future.

[she sounds resigned. maybe she's just bitter over the end of a long-term relationship, but Earth of 2004 didn't seem like it was headed in the right direction]

Government experiments? What kinds of experiments? Or do I not wanna know?

[she gets a little furrow between her brows]

But. . . you're so nice. And I've heard that Nick is nice, too?

It seems it very well could. But not everyone is inherently selfish. In my world, no one stood up to stop it from happening, perhaps in another world, someone did. Because those people do exist.

[ A little bit of hope for you, kind miss. Though DiMA shakes his head at her next question. ]

You would likely prefer not to know. Most of what I know is rumor, anyway, no use spreading terrible tales that may not be entirely accurate. I thank you for that assessment, though. I mean no threat to anyone. And you've heard correctly, my brother is a good person.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Intro Log: Puddle Jumpers

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