hadriel_logs | Intro Log: Arm Yourself

Entry tags:

Intro Log: Arm Yourself

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for August
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: August 10th-15th
Warnings: Stalkers, newbies, and cute loot!

Sleeping on the cold dirt ground of the colosseum is enough to make anyone uncomfortable. It might be a little worse this month than others, as some of you may be waking up on top of or around various self defense devices (btw: that last one is a taser).

Come to think of it, you'll probably need those. Also in the colosseum and already stalking you are... uh, well, stalkers from the Borderlands game series. Stalkers come armed with claws, teeth, and sharp tails- and what's more, they can turn invisible to sneak up on you. Zap them with your newfound taser or stab them with your jewelry comb knife or just run away screaming- we won't judge, but you have to do something or else they'll kill you and eat your corpse and all sorts of unfortunate things.

Good luck finding a way out. Maybe you can make some friends along the way.

All done and escaped from the clutches of the colosseum? Awesome! Feel free to go explore the rest of the city! Find a house, find a new monster, or simply scavenge for supplies. Good luck, and enjoy your stay in Hadriel!

► This log covers August 10th-15th.
► Feel free to make your own logs as well!
► All characters arrive with phones that have network communication.
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Colosseum
[ He woke up on the ground, but it wasn't a huge surprise considering the last thing that happened to kaneki, back in his world, was being kidnapped by a ghoul terrorist organization. The fact that when he opened his eyes he didn't see Ayato or Yamori or Nice was, in fact, a relief, but that wasn't going to last long.

He obviously doesn't touch any of the self "defense" devices because a ) they aren't his and b ) he doesn't need them c ) they really aren't his, and instead Kaneki gets up and looks around trying to figure out just what exactly is going on. His clothes definitively contain blood and they are ripped out, but Kaneki doesn't seem hurt (anymore), at least.

No luck with that, either, because a monster comes out of nowhere and that's when Kaneki is pretty darn sure he is dreaming and he is still passed out. How else could this be explained? But dream or not, that thing looks incredibly scary and dangerous and the hybrid has no desired to be mauled even while in dream land. So he does what every normal person would do: he runs.

Pretty fast for a human too, but who notices that when your life is on the line, right? ]

About in the city
[ How did he even escape those things? Kaneki doesn't know. kaneki doesn't care: he just wants to go home. However, bit by bit he has come to accept that this is no dream: it's really and truly happening as insane as it sounds.

So, right now, he really needs to figure a way out. That's his main concern. Or maybe talk to someone who can tell him how to go back home. In fact, that sounds like a much better option than just wander around by himself, so when he sees someone, he quickly approaches ]

Hello, I'm sorry- can you help me? [ not only he is breathing fast (and probably about to have a panic attack), but Kaneki's clothes definitively contain blood and are a bit shredded; he doesn't look hurt at all, though! So that's good. ]

[Misa awakens on top of something sharp. Even through a haze of sleep, it doesn't take long to realize this is not her comfy hotel bed and that something is very wrong. She is still dressed in her clothes, a red leather jacket and tanktop that bares her midriff along with jeans and large sunglasses. She should be on a movie set, not... wherever this is. With sinking dread Misa realizes that she must have been kidnapped by M. First Sayu and now her. But why doesn't she remember it?]

[The object poking her turns out to be cat shaped brass knuckles, which are just nonthreatening enough for her to pick up. She collects everything else she can find around her for good measure before getting up. What kind of kidnapper provides weapons?]

[She isn't alone here, but the first thing to really catch her eye is a horrific looking monster standing not too far away. That at least is familiar, so she slowly begins to approach it.]

Um... Hello, Mister Shinigami...? Can you help me?

colosseum

[ She doesn't usually go into the colosseum. Not because she isn't interested in helping the new arrivals (they need all the help they can get), but because, in her experience, there are just as many monsters outside in the cave-city. They slip out of their spawn point and creep deeper into the more residential areas, and clearing them out from those places usually seems like a better use of her time and talents.

Also, the colosseum is usually well-stocked with other do-gooders who inform the new captives and who fight off the most recent monstrosities. She checks.

This time, though, the Inquisitor feels compelled to venture farther inside. Dark eyes scan the area, brows ducking to cover a guarded gaze. Footsteps echo around her, likely belonging to some of the newbies, and she starts when a crunch sounds beneath her foot. Cecily peers cautiously down to note the flowered, pink comb beneath her boot and merely blinks at it before continuing on.

There's no shortage of the bizarre in Hadriel, that's for sure.

Footsteps aren't the only noises belonging to the recent arrivals: their voices crop up every so often, sometimes closer than others. One seems particularly near to her and the Inquisitor is about to ask after their well-being when a stalker, invisible, crashes into her and sends her careening over sideways. The rogue recovers quickly enough, scrambling to her feet with her bow drawn, looking more pissed than careful. ]

If you aren't armed, then get behind me! [ She calls to the nearby figure, aiming for the stalker as it emerges from its transparent cover. ]

bar

[ The Inquisitor is sitting alone at one of the bars with a glass pinched between her fingers. She swishes the wine around the inside, as if seeing how much she can do so without spilling it: the fact that nothing does spill either suggests a level of dexterity or a level of sobriety, depending on how well you know her. Open on the counter is a journal of sorts with her writing filling most of the two visible pages. Every so often, she adds a thought or two, frowning deeply.

Sip, scribble, sigh. Repeat.

It's the night of the new arrivals, and though she seems distracted, she isn't overtly frosty to anyone who may arrive and try to speak with her. ]

[It must be that time again. There's a passel of new faces popping up here and there, lookin' about ten types of rattled to be here like most new arrivals are. Sans watches some of 'em pass by with a lazy eyesocket from where he's stowed himself, propped up against the wall in the shadow of the colosseum, hood up to make his skeletal visage less obvious.

Doesn't expect anyone to see him, though the thought had certainly crossed his mind. He turns to face the speaker, and the lights in his eyesockets dilate briefly. Yeesh. Guy does not look good, blood-spattered and ragged at the edges, and the cadence of his breathing is dangerously close to that of a panic attack.

Sans holds out one bony hand, palm out, in what he hopes is a soothing gesture.]

Woah, hey. Slow down, pal. What's eatin' ya?

[Chara had been wandering the city in search of those who appeared to be new. It was around that time and they were curious how many the city contained now that these new people were deposited on Hadriel's doorstep.

They had mainly decided to keep their distance to observe, but when a boy approaches they change their mind. The blood and slightly shredded clothing suggested a fight and they assume that Keneki was the victor as it doesn't appear to be his.]

What do you need?

[ oh my god that's not soothing AT ALL

kaneki wasn't expecting this person to be wearing a skeleton mask - of course it is a mask, because skeletons don't walk around and they aren't alive or undead or whatever, of course not. But that doesn't stop Kaneki from looking a bit more startled - if that's possible - and take a moment to find the words he's looking for ]

Uh- I'm-

[ should he shake the hand?? He doesn't know and doesn't want to think about it ]

I need to find a way out- home, I need to go back home, I'm not meant to be here...! [ clam down, Kaneki. Breathe. ]

Hey, woah, woah.

[The guy is seriously looking like he's on the verge of an all-out breakdown. Given how close they are to the colosseum, it's in everyone's best interests if Sans ensures that does not happen. He keeps his tone even and controlled:]

Look. Maybe you ought'a sit down or somethin'. I hate to tell ya this, but there's no way outta this mess, okay? You're in Hadriel now.

Colosseum:
[ Heine could still feel her hands touching his regenerating body. An unwanted feeling, like stepping in a wet puddle with only your socks on. Disgusting. The sound of gunfire ringing fresh in his ears, heck, even his fingers coiled tight in a sharp twitch as if going to pull that trigger again. That's right, he'd just shot her... Wait, is this a memory? Didn't it all just happen moments ago? If so, then that would mean- ]

LILY!?

[ Turning sharply on his heels, expecting to see Lily standing there, alive and real... Instead, what he saw was a blur of movement. Magato? Was that him? Nah, no way it couldn't have been, it was far too fast, even for the swordsman. Confusion muddied his mind, like a thick fog of memories all to fresh for him to escape.

Panic sets in. Visions of history repeating itself when his eyes finally came to. He was in some kind of large, wide open structure, made for an audience and to keep it's entertainers inside. Screaming. The horrendous sounds of flesh being torn, pierced and sliced. 'Ah~ Music to ya fuckin ears ain't it Master! Lets make 'em sing too, huh!? C'mon! Ya wanna, I know'ya do!' That God damned voice again, not now, not while Heine was vulnerable like this.

Transparent in form apart from a flicker of ultraviolet energy. Fast and unpredictable. Just what the fuck was he seeing!? ' Heads up, you got company.' However, the internal warning came too late.

In a flash of light, Heine's invisible foe closed the distance between them. It's body becoming apparent in all it's alien form. Insect or dragon? It was hard to tell from such a brief glance, yet before Heine had a chance to understand what was going on or where he was- SLURSSSCH!! That agile barbed tail came thrusting towards Heine's thin torso. Penetrating his chest with slick ease, like slipping a warm knife through hot cherry pie. Gasping, a sharp, pained breath panted out through clenched teeth. His hands shaking, grasping the base of the monster's tail, coughing up pools of blood from both his mouth and raw wound in his chest.

A hissing sound emitting from around the torn tatters of skin, tendrils of steam and that oh so familiar stench of burning flesh as Heine's wounds got to work on fixing themselves, melding every so slowly back together. His eyes rolled back white and wild, drool trickled from his gaping mouth to thin the spit-up blood. Falling almost limp to the side dangling, impaled like a rag doll, twitching, bleeding out in fits and starts (pain makes you look bat-shit crazy sometimes.) As his consciousness began to ebb, another version of it clawed it's way to the surface.

Just when it looked as if it was the end for this unfortunate new comer, Heine literally pulled himself back from the dark depths of death's cold grasp. Reanimation was a bitch- and just like a bitch, it always had some stray hound sniffing at its ass. The black dog was awake, Cerberus had risen, pulling itself closer to the monster that had killed it. As he tugged at the tail, further impaling his body, the barbed tip wet with innards and bone fragments in it's wake. Once close enough to the bulk of the stalker, Heine's hands clawed at any soft part they could find. Fuck even checking if he still had his weapons on him, this wasn't Heine, this was the other one the one that Mother was so proud of.

Finding the thing's throat after dragging his fingers up over the underbelly, nails breaking off or snapping against scale like flesh along the way. Snapping his jaws, like a dog with a bone, into the thin membrane that formed the monster's wings, tearing it in two like a crisp sheet of paper. Carnage came so easy when he was like this, almost grimly enchanting to watch, like a train derailing to the score of classical music. Pushing the whole of his hands through the cartilage and muscles, right out the other side, Heine parted his arms wide and fast splitting the creature in two clean down the middle. The pop of veins like cords being unplugged, spilt and spraying it's fluids in a warm rain, painting Heine with a wash of blood as he slowly walked off, towards the next monster he could find, dragging part of the stalker along side him for as long as that barb stayed firmly implanted in his chest. ]

Around the City:

[ Coming to his senses after an outburst from that mutt he keeps tied down within, Heine was, as expected, tired out. Not really bothering to find out where he was or why he'd been dumped here, he simply found a fairly clean looking patch of ground to plonk himself down on.

Propping up the wall, drawing his knees close to his still tender chest, arms wrapping snug around. He'd have to see about getting his cloths patched up sometime soon, he'd only draw attention to himself even more if he went around looking as shit as he did. Lord knows he already looked suspicious enough.

As it would turn out, the dusty asphalt Heine was camping on belonged to a stretch of houses or apartments? Whatever they were, they didn't look like the high-rise buildings he was used to, in fact, seeing nothing but cave and electric lights above head, only added to Heine's lack of interest as to where he was. ]

Well... Fightin in arenas? Back underground? ... Looks like ya got what ya wanted in the end Giovanni...

[ Muttered under a breath, behind snarled teeth. It all just seemed too familiar and yet so different at the same time. Apathetic and seemingly not phased with his new situation. He'd stay here, out on the streets for all he cared. Maybe get picked up with the trash and disposed of come the morning? ]

[ there is finally someone and though it's a child, kaneki hopes they can answer at least some of his many questions. ]

I'm- I'm looking for a way out of here. I'm not sure where I am or how I got here- [ and everything happening is completely crazy and Kaneki is still 70% sure this is a crazy dream ] ... I'm very lost.

Do you know a way out?

[ can you blame him? Some weird creature just tried to much on him.

Actually, this isn't a rare event in kaneki's life, it's not the first time, nor the second, that someone tries to eat him. But it's a trend he does not enjoy and it freaks him out every single time. ]

Wait, what? [ aha, you funny guy, with your funny mask - that wasn't funny at all. But Kaneki will take a second to breathe in and breathe out slowly, trying to calm himself down just a bit. ] Uhm, I woke up in this arena, back there, and there were some strange things going on and I- I really just want to go back home.

[ so yeah, don't tell him there is no way out please. Kaneki's life is terrible as it is, he doesn't need more awful things in it ]

There is none.

[Probably not the answer that Kaneki is looking for. It is the honest truth, however.]

This place is called Hadriel. You arrived here with others that were called.

[And that's the rest of his questions answered. Chara waits to see what the reaction is. It might be interesting, the way this child was panicking.]

I know, buddy. I know.

[He knows the feeling. It bites hard and deep just under his sternum, the slow grating of emotional subluxation and knowing you cannot ever, ever go home again.

He has endured it twice.

He has lived through fifty percent of those transitional phases. In a manner of speaking. He survived one, and only suffered another when he'd reached the absolute endpoint of his own sad, pathetic existence. But now ain't the time for self-pity. It never is.]

This place is a city called Hadriel. Every so often, people get pulled through to here. Wake up in the colosseum. No way back, pal. Wish I could give ya better news, but it's the truth.

1. Colosseum: Continue? Y

He can't die, but is it possible for demihumans to go senile? One too many bullets in the head, maybe? Or caught in a strange dream after the last couple nights glued to the Xbox out of general boredom? Sato quickly discards those ideas, but finds himself still at a loss as to why he woke up in some kind of colosseum ruin and why the few others he'd seen looked like they got kidnapped from a selection of random cosplayers outside Comiket. And then there were the monsters. Actual monsters, two of which were currently in the way as he tried to find a way out through the maze-like corridors.

A couple gunshots ring out as Sato pokes his head out from behind the pillar long enough to snipe at the stalkers. One goes down with a nice headshot, but the other one only takes a glancing hit to the leg and vanishes. There's a faint flicker at first, but he loses track of it quickly. Interesting... oops.

The first spike flying out of nowhere catches him off-guard, but he manages to weave out of the way... right into a second straight into his chest. So this is what it's like to get killed by something you can't see, is about all Sato can think in mild bemusement as he chokes on his own blood, falling to his knees for a brief moment before collapsing completely.

Someone might want to try to help as the stalker reappears and scuttles up to Sato's body (or try to do a little scavenging themselves), even though the countdown to reset is on in 5... 4... 3...

2. City / Armory

Clothes somewhat bloodied from the colloseum events, Sato himself is in fine shape at least. He can be found in a few places on his initial stroll through the city:

* Meandering through one of the more repaired areas of the city, phone in hand, looking up and down, obviously a more than a bit lost and trying to get his bearings (and maybe sometimes looking in the windows for anywhere with the promise of a new shirt).

* On one of the few intact bridges across the river, leaning up against the railing and surveying what can be seen from there.

* At the armoury, thoughtfully weighing a short sword in his hand while eyeing the rest of the weaponry lining the walls. Or at least he's probably eyeing it -- with him, it's hard to tell, to be honest.

A. Colosseum

[That was one rough night's sleep. All Rashid could dream about was his friend, though the sudden rocky ground jolted him awake. He could have sworn he was on his way home, but instead he woke up here. Next to him are some weird items like combs and such, and just when he's about to question that, a few unfriendly monsters approach him. He cautiously gets to his feet.]

H-hey, I'm just a lost guy wondering where he how he got here. You wouldn't happen to know where the exit is, do you?

[As he tries to put his hands up, one vanishes and reappears behind him, trying to take a chunk out of his leg. He hops back with a scratch and a snort.]

You guys are even less friendly than you look. Guess we have to do this the hard way.

[He ignores the pain and summons a whirlwind to speed up an oncoming kick.]

B. Man About Town

[Phew!

Talk about a close call. Those Colosseum battles took a lot out of him, but Rashid squeaked by those pesky monster. Now that he's outside, he feels like he was safer with the monsters.]

Did the Dark Moons take over here, too? I hope not.

[He puts both arms behind his head, walking along the sidewalk and checking out whatever catches his attention. Maybe he should grab a bite somewhere, if he can find a place. He waves down a random person.]

Sorry to bother you, but can you point me in the direction of a restaurant or something? I had to fight some monsters and now I'm kind of hungry.

Colosseum;

[ There's a flash of black swooping around a stalker. The bird ducks and weaves away effortlessly, touching down briefly to snatch one of the sharp keychains in its beak. Suddenly the black blur is very nearby you, landing just before your feet with the keychain still in beak. But he isn't as majestic as he made himself seem. Far from it, actually.

His feathers ruffled in panic, Crow drops the keychain by your feet while heaving words through heavy panting. ]

[ Without much more of a warning, he's is back in the air headed for the exit. Whether you're actually following or not reeallly doesn't compare to becoming the stalker's next snack.

The real MVP, this one. ]

City;

[ When he makes his way out of the colosseum, he flies in no other direction except up. He could tell they were in a cave right away. His least favorite of places, mind you. Confined spaces are not his bag. And the moment he hits open sky, he'll be a literal free bird again.

Of course, that doesn't happen. He can't even find the dang-gone exit to this place. Time to incorporate the help of the locals. In a dive bomb back into city, he finds the nearest perch in front of the nearest person he sees. ]

[ Feathers shiver as he rolls his head. ]

moist

keep

moist

Edited 2016-08-11 00:50 (UTC)

Colosseum

[Who needs tasers when you have a stick?

Not that they don't take the conveniently located taser (aesthetics are important), but what Frisk opts to use for their final showdown is most assuredly...a stick. Not big enough to certify as a branch, not small enough to be a twig; kind of knobbly with a fork at the end. Potentially they are lucky in some respects; the creature pacing back and forth several feet away doesn't seem inclined to attack- it's quite possible it hasn't noticed them yet.

Which begs the question; can they even initiate this battle? Looking down at the trusty weapon within their fingers, the child slowly raises it overhead- before letting it fly.

It falls a good few feet away from it's mark. Said mark takes the time to pounce on the wooden projectile, snapping it to pieces within it's teeth.

That would be a no, then.

It seems that lobbing a piece of wood at your enemy does make you a little more noticeable to enemies. The creature, teeth bared and riddled with splinters, flings it's tail up and over, letting loose a volley of much deadlier projectiles.

Frisk takes that to mean a very pointed no, as well.]

About the City

[There really is something odd about this place.

They don't do so much more than a cursory glance at the cavern overhead, but the buildings are worth more than a few inspections. There's a visual whiplash from one area of town to another; derelict buildings standing tall and proud alongside seemingly immaculate towers and temples.

Some of the streets are mostly clear of rubbish; but even in the ones that are, Frisk takes their time to pick their way across the mix of debris and seemingly old, everyday items strewn in their way; off to the side and out of the way.

The first human who crosses their path gains a rather blatant stare.

It's slowly starting to click into place that they aren't where they came from, anymore.]

[While walking around, Chara had been expecting to see more humans. It was about that time and they were counting the amount that was coming in.

And then a bird starts speaking. It's not too strange. After living with Monsters they learned to roll with strange appearances.]

There is no exit. As for the term, perhaps you have it stuck in your head.

For a city that mostly lacks in life, one lively bird swooping in beside her does stand out.

"Talking bird," she echoes at first in a low tone, her monotone almost masked with an annoyed emotion. Then, her eyes narrow, mostly at herself than anything. "Have really been here too long."

The fact that the bird before her is talking doesn't even phase Rey. After all, the jabberjays are a rather chatty breed as well. But while the jays often parroted phrases and screams and noises they have already heard, there is something... different about this one.

Well, it's a crow, for one. Or, at least, it bears a similar appearance. He's also asking her a direct question, which is something that none of the other talking birds around here have done. Of course, he could be just imitating an all-too-common question from the many newly arrived. It is that time of month, isn't it?

Only one way to know for certain. "You can't find an exit out of this 'drippy dump' because there isn't one," she says, this time directly to the bird.

No, she is not going to say 'moist'.

Edited 2016-08-11 01:00 (UTC)

No kidding, kid!

[ Is that in response to the statement or the suggestion? Both? Both. He preens in frustration. ]

Look. There's never no way out. Doesn't anyone around here got any elbow grease, or...

[ Dramatic sigh. ] Magic? I guess? I hate magic. But if it gets us out of this moi—... erm, stinking cave...

[He won't pretend he doesn't make a habit of this. Wondering if someone might get pulled in from the other side in another time. Time's a tricky creature like that. He'd know it.

There's a striped shirt and a twinge of familiarity - that'd be the Door messin' around with him again, wouldn't it? Yeah, figures. Except the palette here is all wrong, there's a pink and blue blur and that would confirm his hypothesis doubly now, multiple agents acting upon one variable, would this be a¹ or a² because he hadn't delineated which would be the primary and which the secondary, though the other kid's words about genocide being the catalyzing factor implies that this one would be the primary. Or at least, the one that they are when they ain't the other one.

He needs to start learning some names. This is gettin' way too confusing.

He doesn't recognize the fresh beasts in the vicinity. They're real sneaky bastards though, darting from one place to the next in a spurt of purplish mist and a bright snapping sound. So when he sees the kid facing off with one, about ready to get impaled for their trouble, Sans unravels at a speed he wouldn't even think capable of a dumpy skeleton like him, and turns their SOUL blue to yank them backwards, out of the way of the projectiles.]

['The first human'. That's a bit of a joke, isn't it?

Chara had gone deep into the city to explore. From what they had heard from others, this was around the time that more people were coming in. The counter was steadily going up and up. Would it eventually hit three digits? Probably, at this rate.

But. But it was easy to catch sight of someone who had a similar fashion sense. Easy to follow the one they once shared a mind with. It's kind of hard for them to lose track of the person they narrate for.

Perhaps Frisk already noticed that they were alone in their mind by now. There's no helpful - or not so helpful - narrations anymore. But they just have to wait.]

* You observe the city that you find yourself in.
* Clearly you are not 'home' anymore.

[Greetings, partner.]

[Hearing a crow sigh dramatically sure was something. Chara smiles.]

Magic, probably! I hear the gods are the ones that let us come and go.

[But it's not as if they actually know if it's true or not. Not like they really care.]

"There's gotta be one around here somewhere, sweetheart. How else could I fly my feathery butt in here if there isn't a way—"

Crow is only optimistic when it suits his own desires. His overt denial is a sure sign of that right now.

Then it hits him that he didn't come here through an entrance. He came here through magic; A portal between realms. Something must of gone wrong since he didn't see April anywhere when he woke up here. Maybe she got back through and now Crow is stuck here. Just his luck.

"Well, crap... I knew I shouldn't have trust that portal. Everything about it screamed, No, Crow! Don't go through me! and, of course, I went through it!"

Gods...? Gods? Oh, no. No, no. I don't mess with deities, divine, ancients, and definitely not gods!

By the Balance, I'd lose my left foot before I messed with gods!

[ Wait. Let him reconsider that. ]

Okay, a toe on my...

Wait... a claw on...

You know what? Scratch that entirely.

Let there be no losing of body parts.

[What they're waiting for, losing precious fractions of seconds that are realistically the only time Frisk has to move in, is a shift in scope. A narrowing of vision as vibrant color bursts from their chest and sucks away the palette of the rest of the world, a visual ! as they're recognized and challenged in turn. ACT? MERCY?

FIGHT?

But nothing happens. Something happens, but nothing all the same. They feel the pull on their SOUL from an entirely wrong direction, eyes following the feeling even as their body is flung out of sight and out of mind, back hitting the dirt.

You're blue, now. And it's all wrong.

A bright snapping sound from left field. Incoming.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 41

Intro Log: Arm Yourself

Ken Kaneki

Misa Amane | Open

cecily trevelyan ; ota

city

City

no subject

no subject

Heine Rammsteiner | Open | CW: Light gore

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Sato | Open

Rashid | Open!

Crow; OTA

Frisk

City

City!

no subject

colosseum holy shit kiddo

City

no subject

no subject

no subject

okay LOOK this isn't their fault for once