INTRO LOG: WELCOME TO THE BATCAVE

[hadrielmods]

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for January.
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: January 10th-15th
Warnings: Bats, but not Batman. Weird arts and crafts. Confused newbies.

You awaken on the hard-packed sandy floor of the colosseum. As you blink the sleep from your eyes and begin to try to get your bearings, you might hear the gentle, soothing sound of wind chimes tinkling through the air. It's a peaceful sound, a pleasant sound. As you look around, you'll find tall stands with curved hooks at the top here and there throughout the arena, each supporting a different handmade wind chime.

You could stay and enjoy the sounds, even if what they're coming from is a bit less than aesthetically pleasing. Or you could pause for a moment and wonder where the wind that's sounding the chimes is coming from, considering you're in a cave. There are breezes in Hadriel now and again, but what's causing this wind is something else entirely. Spend too long out in the open and you'll find out what.

Perching atop the broken walls of the colosseum, hidden in crevices and shadows, are a number of Ahools. These giant bats can have wingspans as big as 12 feet, and they're certainly strong enough to lift smaller and lighter people off their feet entirely, carrying them away to devour at their leisure. Don't think you can hide - their echolocation will find you as easily as a bat finds a moth in the black of night.

If you manage to escape the Ahools and get your bearings, feel free to go explore the rest of the city! Find a house, find a new monster, or simply scavenge for supplies until your belly is as full as that giant bat's was supposed to be. Good luck, and enjoy your stay in Hadriel!

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

Comments

[themightykamina]

[Yeah, pretty much everything about Kamina screams 'not from around here. The blue hair isn't all that weird, and neither are the tattoos, and maybe you could look at the sword and bright red cape as just a really weird hobby, but everything all put together means pretty much what you think it does.]

Really? Part machine animals to kill people? That just seems like a lot of work, you know? Giant robots do a pretty good job all on their own. Same for animals--if you'd ever seen a pig-mole stampede, you'd know that. Of course it's not a normal animal though, it's a monster.

[Isn't that obvious?]

[krangke]

(Especially in comparison to what Newt's used to. Which is a whole lot of mousy brown heads and relatively plain, conservative clothing. But hey, he isn't one to judge.)

Uh- I use the word 'animal' pretty loosely. And it's not really my choice what they think up to try and kill us with. My concern lays more with the whole not being killed part.

(He looks down at the bat and the word 'monster' does fit. He just...Well.)

Guess I'm not used to organic monsters.

(Because the guy was right, it was pretty obviously exactly that- a monster. Newt was far more used to man-made monsters than...than this natural abomination. He removes the knife almost entirely and slips it away, frowning deep.)

Didn't know stuff like this even existed.

[themightykamina]

[At least this particular guy seems to be friendly enough, weird-looking as he is, and he's definitely interested in what Newt's saying, even if he doesn't understand half of it.]

I know whatcha mean. Back home there's a whole war going on between humans and Beastmen. They're part animal, part human, all pain in my ass. But as long as I've got my team, we can take whatever they throw at us!

From what I've been hearing, new monsters keep showing up all the time. Probably because of Fear. When I got here, there were giant bugs in the tunnels. But as long as you've got a weapon, you're probably fine.

[He has yet to meet a real problem he can't punch or cut, so...]

What's your name, kid?

[krangke]

(Newt can deal with friendly. He'll even reserve judgement on any and all oddities because he's just that kind of guy.

Ah yeah see anyone who speaks about doing things together as a united group? That's going to get a bit of a fond look from Newt, his eyes softening a bit at the edge.)

Having a team can make all of the difference. Definitely.

(His agreement is sidetracked by a look of confusion.)

...Fear?

(Thank goodness Newt was decently exercised in the art of Killing Shitty Things.

At the question, Newt looks over to the other boy and blinks. Then he grins a little bit, quirking a brow.)

Newt. And no offense mate, but you can't be too much older than me. What are you? Nineteen?

(He's so not used to being called "kid". But. More importantly-)

What's your name?

[themightykamina]

[It's a sentiment Kamina can definitely agree with. Without his bro and the rest of Team Gurren, they'd never have made it as far as they did! He's glad someone else understands how this has to work.]

You said it! That's how we're gonna get outta here, you know? Working together, fighting the gods or whatever and making them get us outta here! Fear's the one that brought us all here.

[He straightens up a little at Newt's question, standing to his full height and grinning down.]

The name's Kamina! Badass leader of Team Dai-Gurren. Although I guess I should start a new team down here. Gurren Mark Two! And yeah-eighteen, nineteen, somewhere around there. I don't really know. Why?

[krangke]

(This warrants a slow nod. Newt isn't really religious and even moreso, doesn't believe in things like magic. Doesn't actually really have much of a concept of magic as is, worse yet, and so he doesn't really know what to do with a sentence like "fear's the one that brought us all here" or "fighting the gods".

Yeah. Okay. He'll just take this one day at a time then and not delve into the world of whatever the hell Kamina is talking about. He can at least acknowledge that they're in danger wherever they are.

The details can come later.)

Yeah, well if you need anyone on that team I'm always around to help. And ah- oh you were calling me 'kid'. I figured-. I guess it doesn't matter.

(He tips his head to side as if to say 'see what I'm saying?' But really, when was the last time anyone had ever called him 'kid'?)

[themightykamina]

[Okay, so maybe Kamina isn't that much older. Or not older at all, time gets a little fuzzy when you grow up in a cave with an arbitrary system of timekeeping. But he's used to being a leader, the guy in charge, and that means things like calling people 'kid', occasionally, especially when he's a crappy judge of actual age or ranking.]

And now I can call you Newt instead, so it's no big deal, right? Okay, so now you're officially part of Team Gurren-II, there's just a few rules you gotta understand. First, we work as a team! No other way we're getting outta here except together. That means no abandoning the rest! Second, we never back down from a fight! Even if the odds seem impossible, we just kick logic to the curb and beat 'em anyway! Third, if someone needs help, you help 'em. There's no turning your back on a fellow human in need! Think you can manage?

[He's got a sort of manic confidence that seems to be contagious.]

[krangke]

(It's okay, Kamina. Newt doesn't even have any memories of himself so he really has no clue how old he himself is. And hey, he sort of gets that too. He's not used to being the leader but he's used to being second-in-command and the title usually came with a bit of nickname usage.

Newt's a bit too naturally realistic to catch onto the confidence but at the very least, he doesn't doubt Kamina at all.

At the same instant, he's reminded almost painfully of Thomas and that alone makes him decide that he really likes this guy. Something like admiration shows on his face and he finds himself grinning.)

I think my best friend would like you a whole lot.

(As for the rest of Kamina's rules- well.)

I believe in the group. Back where I was from, I was second-in-command for a reason and I couldn't imagine leaving anyone behind. And if there's a fight, well, there's usually no point in running away from it if it's just gonna catch up to you so yeah there too. And I definitely don't believe in letting people be hurt if I can avoid it.

(So yeah, Kamina, he's completely with you here.)

[themightykamina]

[It's enough that he gets the general idea. He doesn't have to follow along with the enthusiasm, or the loudness, as long as he can understand the principle behind Team Gurren. And that he does; Kamina can tell from the way he grins, the way he talks about his best friend. Kamina and Simon talk about each other that way.]

Well, if he shows up here, he can join Team Gurren, too! Good to have you on board.

[He offers Newt a hand, forearm wrapped in bandages that half-hide bands of blue tattooed around the muscle. Shake on it?]

[krangke]

(Newt snorts a little bit, wondering what Tommy would even think of a guy like Kamina. He reaches out and grabs Kamina's hand to give it a firm shake. Definitely shaking on it. He might not be taking it as seriously as Kamina is but he means it enough that he'd be around to help Kamina out if and when he could.

And having a guy like Kamina around probably doesn't hurt either, judging by those muscles. The kid's huge.)

[themightykamina]

[Kamina's not dumb, despite the way he acts occasionally. Most of the time. He knows that not everyone has his definitions of loyalty and dedication. But every little bit helps, and he's not gonna turn down help if it's offered. Even he needs help now and then. Those muscles don't get him out of everything, you know.]

So, I don't know if you've seen much else here, but the bats aren't the only monsters around here. Do you have any weapons besides that hunting knife?