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

Town

[mismanagement]

Though Maketh has no powers of her own besides a (perhaps flawed) sense of self-preservation, she's picked up on a few tricks over the years. And it would be quite difficult to miss the shower of pale flowers dancing around the stranger and then just...fading.

It's not the Force. This is something else entirely. Maketh almost wants to call it pretty.

She doesn't go for her rifle, though she keeps her weight evenly spread in case things do go wrong.

"What are you doing?"

[elegant_and_proud]

"I believe I asked you a question first," Ikaruga says mildly as she notes the other woman's cautious body language. "But the answer to your question is 'walking'."

She's well aware that this woman is probably referring to the output of magical energy. However, she's technically giving her a truthful answer. One that highlights the importance of being specific.

[mismanagement]

Oh, wonderful. This one's clever. Maketh frowns at her, not bothering to hide her annoyance. Sometimes the newcomers are easy, too afraid or too inherently polite to make a fuss until much later. And sometimes they're just what they are and take pains to disrupt the system that Maketh has so carefully set in motion. "No one is here willingly. Now explain what you are doing."

It's not a suggestion.

[elegant_and_proud]

"I was walking, and now I am speaking with you."

Calmly, Ikaruga is sizing up this other woman, assessing her physical capabilities. She's also having a little bit of harmless fun at her expense because this woman seems to expect obedience from her.

"My name is Ikaruga. Might I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"

[mismanagement]

This one is going to be difficult. Maketh huffs, eyes narrowed tight. Be patient, soldier. Don't yell at the newcomers. It's not proper. "Maketh Tua. Guardswoman. I'll ask you again: what are you doing? It is my duty to protect the people here."

And if Ikaruga is going to threaten that in any way, then Maketh will have to stop her.

[elegant_and_proud]

Ah. A guard. That explains so much. Ikaruga is tempted to have a little more fun with this, but it occurs to her that Maketh Tua might be of some use to her if she's in a position of authority.

"I am not one who harms others outside of self-defense, work, or a consenting fight." It's not a guarantee that she won't harm anyone, but Ikaruga has standards. "To do otherwise would be a waste of my time and skill."

She pauses for a moment, trying to decide exactly how much she wants to tell Maketh. "As to your question...I am searching for people from home."

[mismanagement]

A mercenary, then. That's just great. Maketh fights the urge to roll her eyes and groan. Stars above, she's going to need a drink when this is done. Possibly the whole bottle.

Maketh lifts her chin. Fine. She's dealt with mercenary types before. It can be done if you offer them the right thing and enough incentive to keep to the unwritten contract. "Name them. I know everyone here."

[elegant_and_proud]

"The two I am most interested in locating are named Fukuro and Vidaldus Taka. Both men have fairly distinctive appearances. However, if you've seen anyone with this symbol on their bodies or garments, I would like to know."

She gestures to the symbol on the lower left of her long, flowing, and predominantly white kimono. It's the mark of her guild.

[mismanagement]

Maketh narrows her eyes, then shakes her head. It's a distinctive mark, one that wouldn't have gone unnoticed long. "No one like that has made themselves known."

She does have to wonder why someone so clearly in the mercenary trade would go around wearing a low-cut dress and not armor. A very low cut dress with a view that, under different circumstances, Maketh might admire. But she has a job to do here and there will be no distractions. Maketh eyes Ikaruga up and down with no small amount of suspicion. No armor means she's not afraid of taking a hit - either too fast to let one land in the first place, or with enough power to heal whatever damage did get through.

Regardless of meaning, this woman belongs to a group - probably some professional collective like the Black Sun - and that, more than anything, makes her dangerous. Freelance loners can be manipulated. Company fighters tend to be a bit smarter than that.

She'll have to tread carefully with this one.

Maketh puts her hands on her hips. "I imagine one such as yourself works on a contractual basis, yes?"

[elegant_and_proud]

Ikaruga has to give credit where credit is due. The guardswoman has been able to read between the lines quickly enough. She may be rigid and a little presumptuous, but she's no fool. She'll honour that

"You presume correctly." She's not going to be foolish enough to clarify precisely how dangerous she can be. "It seems this place has a bit of a monster problem. The young man I met when I arrived called those creatures the rudest rosebushes ever. I'm inclined to agree."

[mismanagement]

Maketh thins her mouth, not a smile. "Indeed. Though I fear it's a bit more complicated than hungry plant life."

That's a gentle way of putting it.

She tips her head to the side. "I also assume someone like yourself knows the value of information and logistical support. Am I wrong in that?"

[elegant_and_proud]

She's read about others in the device referred to as a phone. Strange little thing, but useful enough, she supposes. The guide was worth reading, and she's taken to investigating for herself. Trusting blindly is foolish.

"I had read there were others. Are they a daily problem or an occasional one?" For the lack of concern she's showing about these threats, she might as well be asking if it rains often here.

"Your assumption is once again correct."

Now this is getting interesting. They're getting down to business.

[mismanagement]

"My guardsmen handle the daily nonsense. But every once and a while they grown bold, or stronger monstrosities are imported. Things have a tendency to get...interesting."

She smiles this time.

"In those instances, I might be inclined to call on additional assistance. It's only logical."

[elegant_and_proud]

Ikaruga notes the words 'my guardsmen' rather than 'my colleagues'. So Maketh is in charge of them, or at least high ranked within the group. That's good to know. Maketh has some authority to make decisions if there's something Ikaruga needs that she can't get for herself, for some reason or another.

"But of course. Special circumstances require the assistance of someone with a specialized skillset. As you said, it's only logical."

[mismanagement]

At least this one knows how to bargain without throwing in useless threats. Maketh nods, smiling ever so slightly. "Precisely. And as credits have little meaning in this place, I find it best to pay outside contractors through other, more useful means. It's important to have friends in circumstances like these. You never know when it's going to get...complicated."

[elegant_and_proud]

"Friends are very useful indeed. The two men I asked you about...I've fought alongside them for upwards of ten years."

She's not worried about this information being used against her. On the contrary, it's stated because Maketh has shown the ability to consider the implications of what she's dealing with. In this case, an experienced mercenary who's still capable of some loyalty to specific people. Why bother with threats when she can simply imply that she'd be a good friend and a terrible enemy?

"The gods seem like they would occasionally make things very complicated."

[mismanagement]

Ten years is an impressively long time for a mercenary. That means Ikaruga is organized and knows how to play well with others. Probably too smart to lose her temper easily. That will make her an efficient ally, if she can be controlled.

Maketh nods slowly. "That they do. I think you and I will get along just fine, Ikaruga."

[elegant_and_proud]

"I believe that we will. For my future reference, do you prefer to be known by your full name, your first name, or your last name?"

She knows it varies person by person. In her case, she's simply cast away the name she does not wish to be known as, and hasn't used that name in years.

[mismanagement]

How polite. It's a nice change.

"Maketh will do."