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

[circumitus]

There are no apologies or expression of concern when the stranger injures her own head. Rey doesn't even flinch in sympathy, only thinking to herself that that light thud better not have done more damage to her generator.

"Am the one who engineered that 'slipshod' generator. Can assure you that it is efficient enough to produce power to various parts of the city, though." She pauses, her tone darkening into a warning one. "So, would appreciate it if you didn't fuck it up."

[einselective]

"You couldn't find anything better for parts? Is this seriously the highest level of technology I can expect to find here?"

Fluid dynamics was far from her area of expertise, but between a solid grounding in classical mechanics combined with the amount of time she'd spent working out circuits with Ella... Marian is clearly less than impressed with the entire thing, even considering it appears to have been built from scratch. Maybe especially because.

"You're Rey, then?" she adds to the pile of rapid-fire questions. She was going to keep an eye out for Maketh, in case the guardswoman came back, but she'd gotten a little sidetracked considering possible improvements.

[circumitus]

Rey practically snorts. "You can kiss any semblance of technology at the Door you came in from."

Not that it comes through her speech that she means 'door' with a capital 'D', but oh well.

"Yes," she replies to that last query, casting her attention to the generator. She won't know until she flips the switch in one of the buildings to see if this woman knocked out a circuit or whatever. "Technically, Hope could power the city without technology altogether. He just said that it was easier having an alternative. Took advantage of that."

[einselective]

"Better to not rely on them for anything," Marian agrees solemnly. Even though her information so far is minimal at best, she doesn't like one single thing she's heard about these 'gods' so far.

"What are you getting out of this thing? Can't be much more than ten, twenty kilowatt-hours. That might be enough to play with," she says offhandedly, "But I was hoping for something actually useful. I'm not saying it's a complete loss. It's better than nothing. But please don't tell me you're the closest thing to an engineer around here."

[circumitus]

Even though she obviously hasn't been here long, at least this woman gets self-sufficiency. Relying too heavily on the goodwill of beings that consider themselves higher entities has a price.

"It's a little more than that. Enough to provide energy in the inhabited zones, which requires less juice than you'd think," Rey explains, folding her arms over her chest. "If there are any engineers, none have really stepped up before we built this thing."

[einselective]

"Hmph." Less than happy with the state of affairs, Marian shifts her gaze to the makeshift generator again. "That's not going to be enough for any serious work. Give me a little while and I'll see what I can do for improvements," she says, almost more to herself than anything, rubbing her hands together a little, then folding her arms and tucking them in, as if a little chilly. The last thing she wants to happen is a blackout in a cave.

She can skip the night and head straight into the next day, that should work, then go through the shops and start looking for anything useful. If she sets out a grid pattern of places and times, she should be able to cover a good portion of the city within a day, assuming other people don't interfere... Lost in thought for a moment, she's certainly not focussed on Rey any more.

[circumitus]

Rude. Wow. She doesn't even ask before deciding to get her hands all over Rey's work.

"That depends on your idea of 'improvements'," Rey quips amid Marian's thought process. "Don't even know who the fuck you are or if you know what the fuck you're doing."

Seeing that she referenced units of energy earlier, it seems that she's at least knowledgeable in SI. But Rey isn't nearly credulous enough to place her faith in the hands of someone who just arrived for her to have any trust in a complete stranger. For all she knows, one slipup could interfere with the entire grid.

[einselective]

"Aside from a first name and clear evidence that you barely have any idea yourself, I'd say about the same," Marian replies flatly. No hand is offered in introduction, still keeping her distance and making a point of adding the title with, "Dr. Marian Tenebris. I'd name university and past publications, but I'm assuming that wouldn't mean much to you. I--"

You what, Marian? Are the inventor of an incredible advancement that was indirectly responsible for the deaths of how many?

Her mouth snaps shut for a moment before revising her statement, slightly more subdued. "I've worked on much more advanced technology than this since I was an undergrad. Look, it won't be that hard to improve electrical efficiency and increase the power output. If there's anyone with metalworking know-how around, it could use a proper turbine, too."

[circumitus]

"It isn't a first name. It's an only name."

Rey has been many people. Had many names. The thought of just taking one doesn't seem any more legitimate than naming a pet. It just isn't important, or so she tells herself.

Which is a different story for doctors. They sure do love their titles, don't they? Wear their accomplishments on their sleeve like a badge of honor. (Just as her mother once did.)

"Well, won't turn down the extra help, but let's get one thing straight," Rey retorts, uncoiling a hand from her arms and lifting a finger. "You're not going to find any advanced equipment and technology to work with here. Not without asking for favors from those you don't want to rely on. Your phone, the vehicles, and former source of electricity are not running on tech and gears. Am not telling you that your Autotank is triple parked, just warning you how it is."

[einselective]

Marian's lips pressed together in a thin line. "Thanks, but I already had the feeling the entities of this place don't care for what I'd think of modern technology. Neither do some of the people they brought here, for that matter."

She looks at the generator again, and sighs. Salvaging parts and makeshift everything. It's going to be a long time until she can do anything she considers productive. "I'm assuming you're not from some Bronze-Age excuse for civilization at least. Care to tell me who you are too?"

[circumitus]

That's what Rey thought. And she's hardly one to judge anyone's adversity to asking for favors, considering what is generally expected of them in return.

"No, am used to more advanced tech than this," Rey answers, gesturing to the dam in question. "But have been around enough to learn a few hacks here and there. Passed through a few villages that used similar primitive 'tricks' for cheap energy. And solar and wind power is out of the question... for obvious reasons."

To say the least.

[einselective]

"Even with ambient light, there's no reason solar wouldn't technically work, but you're right in that it would probably be even less efficient, never mind the lack of solar cells and the difficulty in constructing them from scrap," Marian feels the need to correct for clarity... and maybe to be just a little more right.

Still, she's seen what there is to see here, and standing around talking isn't going to do any good. "I'll let you know when I'm ready to make some modifications and run a line out to another building. I assume you still have the tools from putting it together in the first place?"

[circumitus]

While she isn't entirely wrong... Eh. Shrug.

Knowing a little more about this Marian person makes Rey slightly less adverse to her assistance. They could certainly use some more capable around here.

"Yes, of course. Am pretty good working with metal, too." It helps when you have hands that can melt certain material and structure it to whatever shape you want. Just takes a certain level of finesse.

[einselective]

"Hmm. Okay," Marian says, clearly a little less certain. She's not sure about that, but she'll just have to see. At least if the armory is stocked with medieval weapons, there should be lots of steel available.

"I'll give you a call..." well, when is going to be an interesting questions, so she leaves it ambiguous. "...later."