Intro Log: Eat Your Veggies

[hadrielmods]

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for January
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: January 10th-16th
Warnings: Luscious greenery and confused newbies

As has become tradition within the good (well, okay) city of Hadriel, new arrivals will awake on the floor of the half-destroyed colosseum. Confused and disoriented, you may be wondering where you are and what you're doing there. Don't worry! Someone will probably tell you sooner or later, as long as you get out of the colosseum alive.

Oh, right. About that. Along with the poor, innocent, vulnerable new arrivals are a number of other new friends! Well, maybe less 'friends' than 'horrifying monsters', but are you really going to be picky? Wandering the arena are Shambling Mounds. These creatures are large, unattractive piles of vaguely humanoid-shaped vegetation. They hit hard, they can take a lot of damage, and if you're really unlucky they might manage to engulf you with their weird plant bodies. If that happens, you'd better try to get free fast - otherwise they'll just walk off with you stuck inside and kill you later at their leisure.

The Door appears to have cast a wide net for 'plant monsters', and while Shambling Mounds are the only ones that can actually hurt you, it's managed to pull in a number of smaller, less dangerous carnivorous plants. Some of them are even kind of cute! So if you were looking for a pet venus flytrap or a new pitcher plant, you're in luck. Scattered around the colosseum are carnivorous potted plants, just waiting to find a new home.

Make a new plant friend, or get eaten by one, or run screaming! Whatever you choose to do, once you find your way out of the colosseum there's plenty of other distractions. Feel free to go 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 January 10th-16th.
► 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

[turingmachine]

1

(What… what’s going on?

The little robot sits up, rubbing their head. Did something happen? They… they didn’t get attacked again did they?! Their demeanor shifts from confusion to panic as they promptly spring to their feet, but when they look around all they see is a… potted plant. Dionaea muscipula, if they’re not mistaken.

Did someone just leave this lying around? Who would do such a thing?

As a lover of plants, there’s no way Turing can just leave it there. This is hardly the ideal environment for it, after all. The little robot picks up the plant. They’ll just have to take it home.

If they can even find home…

Did it just get darker?

Slowly, they look up, only to be confronted with the sight of a much larger, more murderous sort of vegetation.)

“AAAAAAAAAAAH!”

2

(They escape being swallowed alive by vegetation, much to their overwhelming relief.

Now they’re wandering the city streets, unsure of what exactly to do or where exactly to go.

Maybe they can pull a map off of the meshnet… Except when they try, they find there isn’t a meshnet to connect to.

They stop right in their tracks.)

“W-what!?”

2

[fulcra]

[ already done most of what she can to help out in the colosseum, ahsoka is ready to take a break, needing a moment to herself in order to process an arrival she never could have anticipated. she's stuck in her head, turning her encounter with anakin over and over in her mind, but not even that is enough to distract her from what seems to be a very concerned droid. ]

You okay there, little one?

[turingmachine]

(They startle, only just managing to hold onto their plant. Their expression briefly shifts to a giant exclamation point.

It goes back to normal as they turn to look at her.)

"Oh! It's just... I can't connect to the meshnet." (They fidget awkwardly. This is so embarrassing.)

[fulcra]

[ this little things' facial display is officially the cutest thing ahsoka has seen in months and for a moment she's caught off guard by it, before she catches up and gives an understanding nod. ]

If that's the network you use for standard communications where you come from, I'm sorry to say you're out of range.

[ by... a lot. ]

[turingmachine]

(Their expression promptly shifts to one of concern.)

"What?! How far?" (That shouldn't even be possible...)

[fulcra]

Very. It's entirely possible that this isn't the same universe you're from, let alone anywhere you could chart from your homeworld. [ she says it gently, trying not to be alarming despite the fact that it's a little much to take in. and she gets that, she really does. ]

I don't know if you read the introduction on your phone or not, but I really hope you're going to be okay working without a connection.

[turingmachine]

(They frown.)

"I can function without it, but I can't say it won't be... problematic. My memory is limited, and I have to use it to store things relating to my personal development. Normally I compensate by pulling information from the mesh, but..." (They sigh. Obviously, they can't do that here.)

[fulcra]

But without the mesh, you'll be constantly managing what information you need to keep, knowing that the rest will be lost to you. [ at least that's how she understands it, frowning as she thinks about it. ]

We might be able to upgrade your memory. Or at least create a backup system for you, so things wouldn't be lost entirely, just stored somewhere else. That would work, wouldn't it?

[ which is to say that she's already devoted to this robot's cause, already planning what she can do to help keep them in the best working order possible in a place like this. ]

[turingmachine]

(They nod.)

"An upgrade probably isn't possible. From what I understand, my personality profile may be dependent on my hardware." (They think about this.) "External storage might work though! I'd need an easy way to access it..." (Maybe they could even remotely access it...)

1

[ushahin]

[Ushahin is the colisseum as he is every month. The plants this time around are most unusual. He resolves to take a few of them home once everything here is more settled. The monsters, as usual, are of little threat to someone with powers like him. When he hears a scream of terror, he looks over, seeing a strange little...thing. He's never seen anything like Turing before, but that won't stop him from helping.

He approaches the Shambling Mound without fear, bad eye seeming to glitter as he uses his powers on the monster. He twists and turns its thoughts until it is well and truly distracted, shuffling off to seek easier prey. Once it has begun to move, Ushahin turns towards the little robot. Though his face has signs of broken bones long since healed poorly, his voice is kind.]

Are you alright?

[turingmachine]

(For just a moment, the entirety of Turing's year and a half long life flashes before their eyes. NO! They don't want to be eaten by a monster!

...Except the monster really doesn't seem interested in hurting them at all.)

"I'm fine, thanks!" (They're startled, but they turn to smile at the stranger anyway. The little robot sighs in relief, or at least, very convincingly mimics one.)

"I thought that thing was gonna eat me."

[ushahin]

It wanted to, but I convinced it otherwise. [He winks at the little creature in an unusually friendly manner.] Come. Let us get you away from the monsters and out of the arena. I fear you won't last very long on your own. You may bring the plant if you like.

[Nothing touches Ushahin unless he wants it to. The Shambling Mounds that come near him all seem to suddenly pause and turn their attention to the others that are in the coliseum.]

[turingmachine]

(Though their face is a fancy display screen and they don't actually have eyes, Turing does a good show of blinking them anyway at Ushahin's admission.)

"Oh!" (They make an adorable happy face.) "Thanks!" (Their expression switches to something considerably more subdued as they turn to look in the direction it had left.) "As much as I hate to admit it, you're probably right. I am not built for combat purposes, and there doesn't seem to be anything here I could use to gain an advantage."

(At the mention of the plant, they clutch it tighter. They'd be taking it with them whether they were granted permission or not, of course, but it's nice to know there won't be any arguing about that.

A shriek echoes in the background, and they look in that direction, expression somewhere between fear and worry.)

"Uhmmmm don't you think we should maybe try helping...?" (They don't want to be eaten by a plant, but they don't really want anyone else to be either...)

[ushahin]

[Is this what a robot is? He's seen the basic idea in the heads of others before, but the only one he's encountered here looked far different. Nick looked more human than this little fellow. He sends a tendril of thought out. Just as with the android, he finds he cannot enter Turing's mind.]

Exactly. It will do you no good to stay where harm might come to you.

[Ushahin looks around him, shrugging apathetically. Sure, monsters were scary at first, but eventually the fear would fade like everything else.]

I've never known anyone to die from the monsters their first day here. Some may get hurt, but they'll soon recover.

[turingmachine]

(Turing frowns at this, looking around, but there's... not much they can do. For a fleeting moment, they find themselves wishing that they were strong enough to help fight off these creatures.

They sigh.)

"I suppose you're right. I'm not equipped to assist in situations such as this anyway."

[ushahin]

Good. Follow me, my young companion.

[He gets Turing safely to the exit of the coliseum without any harm coming to the little robot. Then they are out in the city, the dilapidated conditions much more apparent in the streets. A large raven comes hurtling down, landing on the ground near the pair of them. Fetch watches Turing with his beady eyes, unsure of what to make of this newcomer.]

This is Fetch. He is my companion. Don't worry, he won't harm you.

[turingmachine]

(Turing nodded.)

"Got it."

(Despite their tiny, tiny legs, they're pretty good at keeping up.)

"Oh, a Raven!" (They're pretty sure at least. It's a bit bigger than they'd expect and they can't access the mesh to confirm the identification.) "Uh... hello?" (They're not sure the bird even understands them, though they've heard Corvids are pretty intelligent.)

2

[skelebro]

[Robots are pretty par for the course 'round here, Sans has learned - Mettaton stopped by not so long ago, and there's people like Nick, of course. He's also pretty used to the idea that robots can and will emote at length, contrary to popular belief. And this one looks pretty damn near frightened out of their proverbial skin.

Heya, Turing. Hope you don't mind a skeleton stopping by, braking his moped to putz to a halt beside you.]

Somethin' wrong?

[turingmachine]

(Is that... some kind of monster? The little robot freezes and stares.

Stuff like this isn't even supposed to be real, right?

...They realize they've been staring. How rude!)

I... (For a moment, their thoughts are derailed again. How does a skeleton even work? It doesn't look like there's anything to hold those bones together... or anything for him to speak with...) I'm having trouble connecting to the meshnet! (Their embarrassment at their inability to stop staring causes the words to tumble out much faster than normal. Feeling awkward, they look away.)

I was trying to see if I could download a map...

[skelebro]

You, uh...is that like UnderNet?

[He scratches the crown of his skull, the rasp of bone on bone fairly nonsensical, seeing as he's got no skin to actually itch. But it's the visual effect of the thing - the indication of confusion - that's the important bit there.]

There's a map of the city painted on one of the walls, I'm pretty sure. Not a digital one.

[He'd ask something inane and direct like, "hey, are you a robot?" But he's pretty sure the answer is "yes," so he'll just...move right along.]

[turingmachine]

"What is the... Undernet?"

(They don't recognize the name. Perhaps another network of some sort?)

"The Meshnet is the proprietary network to which all ROMs are connected. I don't recognize the term Undernet, so I can't tell you how similar they are, but not being able to connect to it is... worrying." (And now they're frowning, though they brighten up a little bit at the mention of a painted map.)

"Oh! Could you show me its location? If you haven't already guessed, I'm not familiar with this area." (They seem to have temporarily forgotten about San's skeletal nature. Or at least, they're adjusting to it pretty rapidly.)

[skelebro]

[So, uh...sounds a bit like UnderNet, though not entirely. Can't exactly say he's in a position to be chatting about a thing like that at any length. Especially to a...robot. ROM? What the heck is a ROM? Like a CD ROM?

He doubts it.]

Yeah, no problem. You can, uh...hop on, if you like.

[He pats the seat of his moped, which, given Sans's rather diminutive size, has plenty of room for a passenger.]

So you're a...ROM, is that it?

[turingmachine]

(Obviously, whatever a ROM was, it was completely adorable, and that's all that really matters.

Speaking of adorable, Turing gives Sans the heart smile.)

"Thanks!" (They're pretty diminutive too, so there's definitely enough room for the both of them. The tiny robot climbs up without hesitation. Awful trusting, aren't they?)

"Yes. To be specific, I'm a custom built companion ROM originally designed as part of an experiment involving machine sapience."

[skelebro]

Machine sapience, huh?

[Yep, they just...scramble right on. Bit like Tina in that way. Sans kicks the thing off and the pair of 'em go heading for the city center.

So kinda like a robot, he's guessing. Maybe Mettaton would have a better idea about this kinda thing than Sans would - Alphys too, for that matter, bein' the one that built him and all. Can't help but wonder if he should call her up and see what her thoughts on this might be.]

Y'gotta name?

[turingmachine]

"Yes. May I ask what you are?"

(A ROM is a type of robot the same way a skeleton is a type of monster.)

"I am Turing."