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

[such_a_teez]

[She's honestly the most amusing person he's met in ages.]

Good luck with that, they're everywhere. [He grins, then.] Not much on the humans, are you?

[oldtonew]

Humans are weak and without honor.

[ She huffs. ]

And their ears are ugly.

[ So small and round. ]

[such_a_teez]

Is that so?

[She's so cute when she's insulting an entire species.]

I never put much thought into ears. [A thought!] Just the ears? Or is everything ugly about humans?

[oldtonew]

They cut their hair too short.

[ Kettara nods firmly, warming to the topic. ]

No one can braid it for them then. It must be sad, not to have anyone to braid your hair.

[such_a_teez]

Shameful.

[He knew she wasn't human from the start, that was obvious. But he's starting to wonder how cultural her distaste is, or if it's something else. He knows nothing about her, besides that humans ears are ugly and that she really wanted that shirt. But he wants to know more. She's the most interesting person he's met here so far, after all.

And in an odd way, she's endearing.]

I usually avoid braiding my hair. Or more accurately, allowing my niece to do so. Should I give it a try? [He has absolutely no intention of doing so. But he wants her opinion, for reasons.

Mainly to get more of this conversation out of her.]

[oldtonew]

[ Kettara eyes him up and down, considering. ]

You can do smaller ones. Your hair's long enough for that. You could weave thread into them, or beads.

[ There are so many things that can be done with one's hair. Back home, one of Kettara's favorite pastimes is doing the hair of her fellow shamans, or letting them work on hers. It's a great measure of trust to allow anyone at her back, to touch her head and come so close to her neck. But she trusts them and they trust her in turn. ]

How many nieces do you have?

[such_a_teez]

You really can't go wrong with beads.

[Not that he knows. His idea of styling his hair is keeping it out of his face, and not cutting it for the sole purpose of keeping Road from punching him. She's rather fond of the current length of it, and he does what he can to keep her happy.] Just one. She's the only child in the family. [Road is odd. A little girl that's far older than Tyki is. A sweet monster that treasures her family and takes the second in command role with brutality and dainty dresses.]

And you? Any nieces? Siblings?

[oldtonew]

[ Kettara's face falls a little. ]

No.

[ Often she'd dreamt about finding lost siblings when she was younger, or distant family members who had survived the war. But those were fantasies. She's let them go. ]

But one day, I will have many daughters.

[such_a_teez]

[Tyki's expression softens just a little more then, although his family situation is complicated at best, he feels a bit broken being away from the other Noah. And her face shows at least some sort of sadness, something unspoken when added with the short and simple no.

Different bonds, different losses, a different set of situations entirely. But painful on each side, none the less.]

A fantastic idea. A whole mess of them, hmm? [Tyki can't imagine that many little girls to deal with. Road is like having a hoard of awful children in one body, she's almost impossible to deal with as is.]

[oldtonew]

Yes. Many daughters. And sons as well.

[ She wants many children, someday. To hold them and watch them grow tall and strong, to see them claim this new world as their own. She hasn't thought much about who she'll raise these children with, but assumes it will come with time. ]

I will have a great clan. Do you have any children?

[such_a_teez]

Ah, I was wondering about the sons bit. I had gotten the idea that you could simply order what you liked.

[For all he knows, she could. She's not human, that's obvious. And humans have their own rules, who knows how they apply to others? If at all.]

No, no children for me. I'd be an awful parent. Children are tiny and fragile, they need someone with far more patience and skill to raise them. [He's bred before, at least his former self has. But he has no idea about if he was male or female, father or mother, if any of that even matters for the bearers of the Noah genes. He knows that child creation is possible for him. But he's not sure if he wants to ever go that route.

It's just too much responsibility for someone with more issues than a long running fashion magazine.]

[oldtonew]

If I adopted them, I suppose, [ Kettara says. There are always orphans. But she will need to find a mate first, someone to raise children with, before making that decision. ] Children are small, at first. But they grow up and become strong. I'm told it's a great joy to watch them become what they're meant to be.

[such_a_teez]

True enough. I'm sure it is rewarding. But I just can't imagine myself good enough for such a monumental task. But it seems like you'll have a family big enough for several, so you can enjoy them enough for the both of us.

[Tyki is quiet for a moment, not really sure he feels up to handling anything like this conversation. It's not unpleasant at all, that's not the issue. It's just that it makes him feel more than he wants to. He's not even sure why, and that makes it worse...

So that means that it's time to turn things towards the hideous shirt again.

He gestures at it, and raises an eyebrow.]

Be honest. Do you actually plan on wearing that?

[oldtonew]

[ Kettara smiles at him, imagining it for a moment. Yes, she will have many children. They will grow up to be strong and clever and they will carve a place for them in this new Horde. Presumably she will have a mate to raise these children with, but she hasn't thought much about him. Men never held must interest for her. ]

It's tradition for men to name children, but I -- I would like to do that, [ Kettara admits. ] I would like to name a daughter after my mother.

[ A way to honor the past while moving into the future. She shrugs at the question, tucking the shirt under her arm. ]

No. But I will bury it and then it will not smell so bad. It's good to have spare cloth.

[such_a_teez]

Traditions are nice for holidays, ceremonies, things like that. But women like you are more powerful than traditions. [He really does like her, as much as he can like someone who he just met. She's stubborn and fierce and sweet all at once. And that is a delightful combination to experience.] I'm sure your mother would be honored to have one of your girls named after her.

[Tyki makes a little snort of a laugh at that. She's really something else.] So burying things helps with the scent? I've been doing laundry all wrong.

[oldtonew]

[ Kettara brightens at the thought. It would be grand, wouldn't it? Her mother's legacy - and indeed the legacy of their clan - would live on in the next generation, and the one after that. One day Kettara hopes she will have many children and then grandchildren, and that the Horde she fights for will be worthy of them. ] I believe she would. You have wise words.

[ She tips her head to the side, curious. ]

Oh, yes. It's good for getting rid of strong smells, so your enemies can't track you.

[such_a_teez]

[He's honestly never heard of doing such a thing. But the part of him that loves new experiences, that thrills at anything different, has to try it. The minute he has some item of clothing that smells enough or looks bad enough to launder, he'll just bury it and wait it out. Even if it goes like he thinks, and it just makes a grosser and smellier garment, he can say that he tried it out.

Also, it would make his brother have a panic attack by the sheer uncivilized aspect of it. That makes it a thousand times better. Almost anything that would make his brother cringe is A+ in his book.

It's going to be an interesting experience, if nothing else.]

Duly noted. I suppose that will come in handy here. It's not exactly the most welcoming of places.

[oldtonew]

No, it's not.

[ She's been in harsher, but that could change. Apparently this place does change quite often. ]

I hope you fight well. I like you.

[such_a_teez]

I can hold my own. I won't say I'm a great warrior, but I've survived so far. [Say the man that can literally refuse to be touched by his opponents. And can use butterfly golems to serve as weapons when he feels like actually engaging in a little hand to hand combat.]

Is that so? [Tyki's expression turns entirely warm then. He likes her too.] I hope I won't disappoint you in the future.

[oldtonew]

It takes strength to survive, [ Kettara tells him sagely. Therefore he's a warrior in his own way. ] Maybe you will fight next to me someday. It seems likely in this place.