Intro Log: Welcome to the Snave (snake cave)

[hadrielmods]

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for March
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: March 10th-15th
Warnings: Snakes! Snakes! It's a snake!

Good morning, new arrivals! Or, well, it's probably morning. The sun is up, anyway. Okay - not the sun, but that ball of light at the top of the cave that functions as the sun, anyway. Whatever. The point is you've woken to find yourself on the floor of Hadriel's colosseum. You may be wondering where you are and what you're doing here, but what you should be wondering is how fast you need to run to get away from a three-headed snake.

You're not the only one who just woke up. Also to be found in the arena, angry and confused, are Runespoors - large three-headed snakes. Only one of the heads is venomous, but all of them are perfectly willing to take a bite out of you if you get too close - or if you annoy it. If you're lucky, an attacking Runespoor may distract itself via infighting between the three heads, giving you time to run. If not, well, let's just hope you can fight off all three heads at once!

But that's not the only thing you might find. Also scattered around the colosseum floor are what look like tasty snacks. Popsicles, cheese, even toast! Unfortunately, if you get hungry and take a bite, you will quickly discover that each and every one of these is actually soap. So that's great. Maybe the Door thinks everyone needs to shower more? You can also find a few that actually look like soap, and if you're really lucky, you might stumble across the rare and coveted 'pile of baby hands' soap.

With luck, you didn't get eaten by a snake or accidentally eat a piece of soap. 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 March 10th-15th.
► 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

[daemonized]

Ten years.

[The answer is immediate, and he lets it dangle before the boy, in all its implications. Ardyn debates saying more, but even in his sadism, his desire to make others writhe with a truth they'd rather not hear, he bites back the words. There's only so much he's willing to tell about a future that hasn't yet happened for Noctis, for his friends, for anyone else here he may stumble across from their star.

And yet, how easily Noctis takes the bait for information. He supposes, if he were to be fair, he would do the same. Being stuck in a world far from home, in a state of limbo as the days crawled by in a dreary haze -- this little tidbit must be truly tantalizing, despite how Old News it is to the Usurper himself.]

Needless to say, you have a bit of catching up to do when we return.

[When. Not if. When.]

[kittycaterer]

[ Noctis would hate to admit it, and he doesn't, but those two short words burn him like no other. Ten years? Ten years, and he isn't even certain if the problem has been resolved. Or where things have ended. Such a short reply could mean so much. And in Noctis' shattered pride, he still can't find himself prepared to ask further. Ardyn gets exactly what he wants in essentially torturing the prince with this idea that all of their hard work has presumably no end in sight. But he has no clue what occurs after the Keep. ]

[ So it's because of this that Noctis starts to look strained. His eyes glaze over, body tense as he fights not to allow his breathing to hike. Instead, he takes a sharp inhale, forcing himself to roll his eyes as he adjusts his backpack. He's tempted to leave, and it's hard to consider that when the risk of Ardyn finding out where he lives is a possibility. ]

Yeah. Bet you're just sick to your stomach being even more stunted and useless here.

Good to know. Now if you'll excuse me...

[ His tone is almost strained, forced to sound prim and proper in an attempt to brush off Ardyn and suggest this hasn't bothered him. But it has, and honestly? Though he tries to walk away, he probably won't be able to. ]

[daemonized]

[Ah, there it is, then. A reaction, pained and laced with a burgeoning realization. Ardyn feels that spike of sadism, lets it intermingle with the way his smile sharpens and his words become languid and lingering, as if trying to amplify Noctis' obvious discomfort even more. And so naturally, the boy's own attempts at lashing out with insults loses its potency.

Because while Ardyn Izunia is many things, useless he is not. He does not plan to sit idly by and let the days pass, hoping for a solution to land in his lap. He's a shrewd man, and even this terrible prodding has its uses -- to remind Noctis that Eos still awaits him, that there's unfinished business that remains for the Chosen King. Whether he has to instigate that idea with rage, or sorrow, or something even worse, well. It's certainly not below him, either way. But motivation is always key.

Pain is just a bonus.

Noctis can try to walk away, and Ardyn won't make a move to stop him. But he'll not let him go without his words stinging at his back, if he does manage to.]

Is that all, then? [He opens his arms wide, as if to question Noctis' reaction to this figurative bomb drop.] Not even a single question regarding the trials and tribulations that you might come to expect? What your friends may have to suffer through in those long, ten years?

[Now he's just being cruel, because he does not intend to answer any of them.]

[kittycaterer]

[ He got it. He for exactly what he wanted, and Noctis is fully aware of that. In the time spent within Zagnautus Keep, Noctis learned very quickly that Ardyn's sharp tongue is difficult to ignore. Possible, but difficult. Remaining poised and prepared does not come easy when facing the chancellor, and it seems even having most of his friends here doesn't help ease that burden much. In fact, it's worse. Worse because Lunafreya and Regis are here, and it's only a matter of time before Ardyn finds out the Oracle is close by. Under the same roof, close to her promised prince, and just as alive as the king. ]

[ While Ardyn is only harmless in terms of where Eos is concerned while they are here? He is still a threat. And those words still burn him from the inside, out. Noctis stops in his tracks, thinking over what he's about to do or say because he honestly isn't sure. He just recognizes this game, and knows that this is what he'll be dealing with so long as Ardyn is here. ]

[ The curiosity is there. The temptation is there. But when Noctis turns around and comes walking straight for Ardyn? He doesn't question it. The prince only comes close enough to leave a shred of distance between them, and his calm composure is back where it belongs. ]

I'm not naive to your games, Ardyn. I know full well what you're getting at and what you're trying to pull. All of this? It's moot, because you and I are both stuck here until a way out is found.

And in that time? This?

[ he gestures between the two of them. ]

Is a waste of time, and stops here. I'm not interested in your fortune-telling. Go ahead and run your mouth all you want, but you're not off the hook just because we're stripped of our obligations in this universe in the middle of nowhere until we get back.

[ is that a threat? Absolutely. ]

And I will get back. That throne is waiting for me, and it won't be cold long.

[daemonized]

[When Noctis closes that space between them, Ardyn doesn’t move. He looks down at him, that immeasurable condescension etched onto his features probably all the more prominent from being this close. And there’s something about him, frustratingly so, that seems almost pleased to hear Noctis speak to him in such a way. It may be baffling, but it could also be easily chalked up to the fact that the man merely enjoys seeing Noctis so riled up, so frustrated, so angry.

(When it’s really his determination that pleases him the most. This is what he wanted to see — a spark of fire, something for him to keep well alive with his wheedling and prodding and biting criticism.)

He actually tilts his head down at him, his lips twisted into a skewed grin.]

Oh, don’t mistake me, Noctis. Our obligations have gone absolutely nowhere. It’s merely the setting that’s changed.

[At the threat, Ardyn actually huffs out a laugh. What irony. It’s almost too much to bear.]

If you wish to reclaim your throne, I do hope you intend on becoming stronger than what I had witnessed in the armory. A weak, vacillating King is no King at all.