hadriel_logs | Intro Log: Better Off Dead

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Intro Log: Better Off Dead

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for November
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: November 10th-12th
Warnings: Content warning for body horror in both items and animals this month!

Good morning and welcome to Hadriel! The forecast is cloudy with a chance of cold rain, and the weather is a bit too chilly for your tastes. That's alright though- you've got bigger things to worry about. Like the fact that you're waking up alone on the ground of what looks like a colosseum, and that you're surrounded by scattered jewelry. These various pendants, brooches, and chokers all feel- fleshy and slightly warm to the touch, though they'll cool off and firm up the longer you might be holding them.

But what kind of sick and twisted person would do something like this?

Well, the same kind of person who would apparently throw you in here with not only messed-up body jewelry, but also messed-up body monsters. You may hear them approach, thumping on the ground and growling as they come closer to you... but there's not much to be afraid of, really.

The monsters that surround you this month are grossly deformed, appearing as if someone tried to inexpertly combine multiple monsters together to make them more fearsome- the head of a hellhound is too big and it can't lift it, so it drags along the ground, the bear has too many legs to walk properly and falls on itself, improperly-spliced chimeras have dead heads that loll lifelessly about their necks- so on and so forth. It may be a better idea to put these creatures out of your misery before you go- if you're able to, that is.

But at least you can find your freedom relatively easily- if you could 'living in Hadriel' as freedom, I suppose. Once you escape from the colosseum, 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 November 10th-12th.
► 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

[The other beast seems friendly enough, at least that is what she would guess. The Dog hasn't had much time around other dogs. Her Mistress had always kept her away from others, or else the Dog had disappeared for a time when others had come around. Sameth was actually the first person to see her aside from Lirael.]

No doubt dogs can't not have chocolate.

[Tongue licking around her chops.]

[Chance is a big sweetheart. unless you're a Darkspawn or someone else trying to hurt Mariane, then he's death on four legs.

and this dog talks. interesting! they'd always said that Mabari were smart enough to talk, but wise enough not to. perhaps in other worlds, all dogs can and do talk?]

I suppose you'd know? Since you are a dog, after all.

[she manages to work the top of the box open, then is unpleasantly surprised to see that the food is in entirely separate packages. it takes her a few tries to tear them open, then withdraws two Pocky sticks]

One for you. [she gives one to Chance] And one for you. [she gives the second to her new companion]

And may I ask your name? [she says to the Dog]

[She would be sadly disappointed, as the Dog is one of a kind, in many ways.]

Well, I do indeed look like a dog, don't I.

[Yes and no answers are things that the Dog rarely, if ever, gives. Her Mistress had perfected it, but it had taken years to get to that point. Even then, the Dog would wiggle and squirm until her Mistress pinned her down, and then sometimes she had to do further measures.

Her tongue works over her mouth again, eyes trained like a hunting dog on that box, following each and every motion that the female makes with it. She doesn't try to steal the one offered to her own companion, and very politely takes the one that is offered to her, chewing delicately.]

Thank you, and that is the Disreputable Dog, unless you desire to get technical about it. Otherwise, Dog works.

[she'd know something about being one of a kind, being the only Warden to survive killing the Archdemon]

Yes, you do. And a very handsome dog at that.

[a simple yes or no can be effective, but it can also be limiting. it tends to cut off conversation rather than invite it and Mariane has been trained in all of a lady's graces and one of those was to encourage conversation.

an eyebrow quirks up] The Disreputable Dog? May I ask how you earned such a name? And I will call you by whichever name you prefer.

[The Dog can say that no one has ever really called her that. Then again, she is usually a bit dirty and scruffy.]

Thank you.

[Because she is gracious and does have some manners. Sometimes. At least she doesn't steal food.]

I named myself. And Dog is fine. It is what others call me.

[she's a Fereldan, all dogs are handsome to her. as long as they're not those little yappy perfumed puffballs preferred by the ladies of Orlais]

You're welcome.

[and as a lady, she had manners drilled into her since childhood. along with combat, lock picking, disarming traps, and dirty fighting tricks]

Very well, then. Dog it is. Please, call me Mariane.

Mariane. A very pretty name.

[Not one that the dog has heard before, but she had been out of circulation for a while. It doesn't negate her words though.]

It's a pleasure to meet you.

Thank you. I was named for my aunt.

[she has heard of Mabari and dogs alike being called "Dog," but that always seemed like a failure of imagination to Mariane. now, choosing to be called Dog, especially a name like the Disreputable Dog, is another matter]

I'm pleased to make your acquaintance as well. [she attempts to curtsey as best as she can in armor] Have you been here long?

[The Dog is far less polished or refined, scratching at her nose with her one paw. Can she be? Possibly. That usually involves a bath though, so she'll pass.]

I arrived the last time this sort of thing happened.

[good thing Wynne didn't come along with Mariane, she'd have him in a bath in a moment]

So you're still fairly new to the situatio as well. Tell me, is this place as odd as it seems?

Oh, odder still, I must say.

[Sagely, although there is a little playful gleam in her eyes.]

Odder? I'm almost afraid to ask.

[Chance senses Mariane's unease and butts his head against her hand]

Lack of mice and rabbits, for starters. Nothing to chase or dig after.

[Chance whines at her side at the news of a lack of wildlife to chase and catch] Yes, I can see how that would make this place fairly boring. You may spend as much time as you like with Chance and I to alleviate your boredom?

Although if you like fish...

[Then again, not all creatures put their head under water and walk about like that. Still, it is good fun and gives her something to chase. She has always liked adventures, exploring, seeing new places and sniffing new corners. It is no different here.]

I'll be certain to take you up on that offer.

I like fish well enough. Living so closely to the seaside, we often had fish.

[she used to sail up and down the Highever coast in a one-person sailboat. Chase didn't come along because he became seasick]

Please do! I would appreciate the company and I'm sure Chase would as well.

Good, because there are plenty, if you can catch them.

[Although if she did live near the seaside, she likely has a better technique than the Dog. After all, hers includes just dunking and snapping.]

I'll sniff the both of you out. Perhaps go for a walk? Plenty of places to go.

[hers involves hooks and lines and patience. a great deal of patience. and fish would be delicious after spending so long in the landlocked parts of Ferelden]

That's good to know. Thank you.

We would both enjoy that very much. Woudln't we Chance? [Chance barks his assent]

Good! Then we shall consider it an outing.

[Taking a moment to sit. Unlike herself, they likely would require a place to sleep, no doubt, not that the weather here was overly bad. Rainy, sometimes, but that doesn't bother the Dog at all.]

Have you found a place to live yet?

I'll look forward to it.

[the weather reminds her of Ferelden. not particularly cool, not particularly hot. somewhere in the middle. and yes, there's the rain, that reminds her of Ferelden, too]

I'm not entirely sure? There's a woman here from my world and she has a house, but I didn't want to assume.

Is she not a friend then?

[Not that the Dog can really talk. She would assume that if Lirael was here, she'd just enter. The others? Well, she had had minimal contact with most of them. That much is true.]

We've barely met. That's not enough time to become friends.

[and she wasn't entirely sure that Cecily approved of her being sixteen and a Grey Warden. she's not entirely sure she approves of it herself]

There are plenty of places then. No need to sleep outside, unless you prefer to.

[The Dog doesn't mind, but she also likes a nice fire and a good bone to gnaw on.]

No, I spent most of the past year sleeping outside. I'd like to avoid it, if I can.

[she grew up in the lap of luxury in a family second only to the royal family in terms of wealth and power. going from that to life on the road during the Blight was quite a shock]

Then you've a number of choices. Although there are some that do look rather strange.

[She may or may not walk around those abandoned places...]

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