Intro Log: Puddle Jumpers

[hadrielmods]

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!

Comments

[unphase]

I don't know. I wish I did. This is the third day it's been storming. You'd think we'd catch a break, but [she shakes her head] so far, no good.

[oldtonew]

Are the...[ Kettara pauses. ] ...the gods causing this?

[unphase]

It's possible. I mean, I wouldn't put it past them. From what I've heard, though, usually they don't pull their tricks until the end of the month. [she laughs] Granted, I've only been here a month, so I'm probably not the one you want to ask.

[oldtonew]

The end of the month?

[ Kettara blinks, newly interested. ]

Does it follow the lunar cycle?

[unphase]

[she thinks a moment] I. . . couldn't really say? I was told that it's usually the last week of every month. It could very easily follow the lunar cycle, but I haven't been here long enough to judge for myself.

[oldtonew]

[ Interesting. Kettara scratches her head, thinking. ]

You said they happen on the last week of every month. What was the last one like?

[unphase]

[she frowns slightly]

Somehow, the aliens made us believe that all of the city had been abandoned except us and a couple of other people. The aliens themselves even disappeared from their temples.

[oldtonew]

[ Kettara rocks back on her heels with a frown. ]

Why?

[ She can't imagine the purpose of such a thing. ]

[unphase]

[she shakes her head]

I don't know. I guess it was supposed to frighten us, but I wasn't really scared. Just annoyed.

[the aliens are weird and like to do weird things]

[oldtonew]

Because....they take power from our emotion, is that right?

[ This is all very new to her. Kettara has heard of creatures that took strength from the act of being worshipped, but nothing like this. ]

[unphase]

That's what I've been told. I've only been here a month, so I don't know how effective the rest of their tricks are.

[it's all very new to her, too. she's never heard of beings which gained sustenance from emotion. not that she thinks it's impossible, she's seen a lot of supposedly impossible things in her time in the Legion]

[oldtonew]

I though they'd be stronger, [ Kettara admits. ] It's not easy to open portals like this.

[ It's a very different sort of power than her own, but Kettara knows enough. This sort of thing isn't done lightly. ]

[unphase]

So did I, to be honest. I know of ways to open portals through technology, but what goes on here seems to be a little of both, magic and technology.

[and it's the magic she's having a hard time coming to terms with. she's from a technological wonderland, but magic? that's thought long dead]

[oldtonew]

I've heard of such things, [ Kettara says, scratching her head again. ] Though I don't know how you would manage it. They don't seem to like each other, magic and machinery.

[unphase]

I don't know how it would work, either. The Door is likely some form of technology, but what else would explain why everyone else seemed to disappear except magic? [she sighs] We're dealing with some very powerful and very mysterious beings.

[oldtonew]

Yeah. [ Kettara deflates momentarily. The task feels overwhelming. How could she possibly fight against such things? But in the end, she knows Master Muln would want her to try. ] I guess this is my next trial, as a shaman.

[unphase]

[she knows she can't fight the aliens. there's only one of her and her powers are defensive only. so she's hoping that her friends in the Legion are able to track her down. . . assuming she's still alive] You're a shaman? What does a shaman do?

[oldtonew]

We maintain balance between the elements.

[ She hesitates. ]

They're alive, back home. They talk to us. They want things.

[unphase]

Really? How do you do that?

[her eyes widen at the last piece of information. she's never heard of such a thing]

What kinds of things do they want?

[oldtonew]

We ensure one doesn't become more powerful than the others, tend to their needs.

[ It's a complicated and ever-growing task. ]

Life. Fuel to sustain them. Some of them are proud and want attention.

[unphase]

So you keep life itself in balance? That's an important job.

[it seems as though it would be]

That sounds like a lot to take care of. What kind of attention do they like?

[oldtonew]

It's our duty.

[ A task that cannot be undertaken for gain or personal glory. ]

It depends on the element, and what the conflict is. Fire wants to burn and eat things, Water wants to be clean. Sometimes it's just keeping them from fighting.

[unphase]

[she nods. she knows something about duty, though her duties to the Legion and the Guard are ones she chose]

The elements fight one another? How do you make them stop?

[oldtonew]

By reasoning with them.

[ Kettara makes a face. ]

Or fighting them, sometimes.

[unphase]

Fighting the elements? How do you do that?

[she sounds amazed]