Intro Log: A Stinging Letdown

[hadrielmods]

Who: New arrivals and everyone else!
What: The intro log for May
Where: The colosseum and all around the city.
When: May 10th-16th
Warnings: Monsters. Newbies. Disappointment.

You awaken rather unceremoniously, finding yourself on the hard ground of a large arena, a stone ceiling stretching high above you. Welcome to Hadriel, newcomer, we hope you enjoy your stay in our lovely cave city. This may be a little more difficult to do than expected, considering the monsters.

Yes, it looks as though a few manticores arrived along with you - and they woke up before you, because that's just how your luck is going today. These creatures are large, about the size and shape of a lion, and not very attractive. In fact, they're a bit like a collection of spare parts - the body of a lion, the wings of a bat, the face of a human, and the tail of a scorpion. And that tail's not just for show. If their lion claws don't get you, that tail might shoot a poisonous spine that will paralyze you, leaving you defenseless and all ready to be eaten. Good times!

But wait! There's more! Starting to feel like you might need a stiff drink? Throughout the arena, you can also find a number of very interesting-looking bottles of liquor. Give one a try, if you dare - or if you just really need to drink your misery away. And that'll be your very first lesson in the disappointment of Hadriel - because though they taste the way they're supposed to, each and every one of these bottles of liquor has become non-alcoholic. Yikes.

Hopefully you can recover from that heart-crushing disappointment. 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 May 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

[armcollector]

Oh yeah, skeleton guy. Uh, Luca. It still seems hells of shady when these guys do it, though. Maybe it's the fact I've never heard of them before?

[I mean, if Taako wants Magnus to charge into a wall, he'll charge into a wall. But something tells Magnus he needs a reason to believe that'll do anything before he starts doing all that.

Magnus rushes in, don't get me wrong. But there's no wall between him and the door. Unless there is???? Fuck, now Magnus is going to be looking real close at walls for a while.]

I mean, I want to say I've got a plan. The gods have a reason to keep us here and they apparently keep mum about the Door. I'd say we start with them, but I got no clue where they are. They've got shrines or somesuch lying around but I was poking around one and I heard not one peep outta Grumpy or whoever.

I think this isn't something we can take care of in one day, though. We'll probably have to find someplace to stay for the night.

[pocketspa]

[This is rapidly progressing from 'incident' to full on 'problem', and that is really, really not something Taako wanted to deal with today. Usually when they're chasing a relic or doing something serious, we're talking hours of time. The longest they'd spent on something since they joined up with the Bureau was in Goldcliff and that was overnight. If they're this far from any kind of goal- and down one man- after their first day, this is shaping up to be the longest of them all.

Damnit.]

Man, who signed us up for this? What are we even supposed to be doing here? We spend months just, like, hanging around the Bureau doing whatever, and then the second we actually have a serious mission this happens.

[He doesn't like the sound of any of this. Taako fishes out his network device, very slowly opening up the newbie guide.]

This, uh, was the only new thing in my bag when I got here, and it has a map. Maybe we can just wander into an apartment or something. Not that, y'know, I don't love the pocket spa, but I don't think the lights turn off and I don't wanna sleep in a hot tub.

[He pokes around it again, moving the map on the screen with his finger aimlessly.]

Maybe we can shake some people down for info tomorrow or something. We've done closed-off towns before, right? We just don't get do-overs this time.

[armcollector]

Well, we kinda do. Except it's less time travel and more "the gods here are probably on really bad terms with the Raven Queen". Seriously, how much do they have to hate each other to just go, "Yeah? Well guess what, no one has to ever die!" That's some bonkers shit. I'd say at least we don't have to worry about consequences except when do we ever and also, I feel like someone's gonna have something to say once we're outta here. Three guesses as to who.

[Refuge was a whole other beast, where everyone was dying once an hour, so that sorta puts all this into another perspective. Plus, they've done feeling emotions to power someone else before, and come outta that... well, not great, so that's not encouraging, but at least they can say they survived it once before.]

Yeah, I feel like there's enough turn around here that they've got a set up for new people. Probably. An apartment sounds good. This place is like, a lot. We don't really have the time for it but it's making time for itself so. That's just how it's gotta be I guess.

[pocketspa]

[It takes Taako a second to bite back a comment about how it wouldn't be the worst thing if Kravitz showed up in his bedroom again, and stops himself. Nope. That's too much for even, like, a good day, and this is decidedly not a good day.]

Yeah, I'm not super pleased with 'that's just how it's gonna be', ya feel? We usually crack stuff like this wide open, but...

[He feels around for his Stone of Farspeech, and then remembers it is Super Not Here.]

Ugh, right. Even if we could call out of here, Lich Barry broke our shit. So there's no phone a friend for this million dollar question.

[This is getting more frustrating by the second. He goes back to paging through the map, trying to figure out where he set the Pocket Spa down so they have some sense of direction out of here.]

This is a lot of work I didn't sign up for. And I bet we're not getting paid. And you lost my sword and I lost Merle. This sucks, Magnus. This really sucks.

[armcollector]

Okay, look, I'm not saying we lie back and let this place and its gods and its Door do with us what they collectively will. Tres Horny Boys don't just give up. But, like, there's only so much we can do, and it's getting late, and even I've got to sleep sometimes. Also, I think we gave up on getting paid the second we decided to go off the grid, unless you had some kind of brilliant plan to save the moonbase and/or find the truth about everything without getting the Director mad at us, in which case I'd really like to be let in on that.

[Having said his piece, Magnus peeks over Taako's shoulder at the little screen, looking over the map as well.]

I've been looking all over this place. Which I probably wouldn't have done so much if I noticed this map first, but, uh. I think I passed by this thing this way, so... [He points out their approximate location on the map.] I think we're here.

[pocketspa]

Nah. I was pretty sure we were, uh, burnin' that bridge as it stands, but it would've been nice.

[Maybe Lucretia has good shit in her office. Who knows. He has no use for money here, the Fantasy Costco's gone on the moon, fuck it. He needs to be rolling with these punches better. He looks where Magnus points, and then zooms out a bit.]

Okay, so... all these towers are marked as apartments. And then there's... these houses. And I think these are underground.

[This is like, weirdly domestic, but necessary, so he shoves his odd feelings about it to the side.]

We should, uh, probably find a three bedroom, right? For when Merle finally gets here?

[armcollector]

I mean, obviously.

[That sort of thing just goes without saying. They're a trio. That means three.]

If there are no three-bedrooms one of us has to share with MerleNOSE GOES!!!

[Before he even finishes saying the words he's got his finger on the tip of his nose. Sucks to be you, Taako.]

Ha HA! I guess we knows who's sharing the Casper Queen!

[pocketspa]

[Taako lets out the most strangled noise at Magnus, turning his head to look at him over his shoulder.]

I would honestly rather sleep in the fucking lake than have to spend one more night listening to Merle coo at a potted plant. I have completely scrubbed my memory of the point when we shared rooms. I have elected to punch myself in the head rather than remember any of that shit. Voidfish me of Merle's vine fetish. Just do it.

[Now he's just super intent on finding a three bedroom or higher. Not that they intend on having anyone else stay with them, but then they could just Have an extra bedroom. For stuff. He doesn't know what stuff, but he's sure there's Some Stuff.]

It looks like, uh, the bottom floors of each of the... spires? Have three. And a bunch of the houses have four or five. Guess we just go see which ones are locked?

[armcollector]

Yeah, let's just go up, like, "hey, we're in the market for a new condo, which of your neighbors have mysteriously disappeared in groups of three or more?" And you know what? It'll be a great icebreaker for the eventual housewarming party.

[Magnus claps Taako on the shoulder.]

Alright, dude, we're about to do something neither of us has had to do in a very long time. We're going house-hunting. What are the most important amenities to you? I hear some of these places have their plumbing indoors. Haunted home, dealbreaker or no?

[Hear that, Taako? That's the sound of roommate compromise. That's when you have to compromise your alone time for a roommate that leaves his discarded clothing on the sofa. Remember those days? The cohabitation days? Surely you missed them dearly.]

[pocketspa]

[This is so embarrassingly domestic, but Taako can't even find it in himself to care. He's exhausted, and if he's heading for a bed, he'll go crusin for a snoozin'.]

That depends, is the ghost gay and does it suck my dick? I'd compromise on bisexual, but if I don't get thrown into another world and get a complimentary spectral dick-sucking the deal's off.

[This is the real sound of roommate compromise, Magnus- deciding the sexuality of your live-in sex ghost that Taako is now Insisting upon.]

Also, I want an open-concept kitchen and non-fluorescent lighting.

[armcollector]

[Magnus can't help it, he shrieks with laughter.]

P-Please keep it down when you fuck Slimer, dude, if I have to wake up to the sound of him sliming your dick I'm gonna never be able to sleep again. Come on.

[Magnus takes note of the relative location of the apartment spires and starts leading the way out of the pocket spa.]

I have no idea what an open-concept kitchen is but as long as we get hardwood floors over tile I'm down.

[pocketspa]

Magnus, that's the roommate code, you have to listen while anybody bangs anybody. It'll be like, quiet, but not quiet enough, and you'll know. You'll just know.

[He follows Magnus out, collapsing the pocket spa once they're outside and stuffing it back into his bag. There's still a bunch of that shitty alcohol in there, but he'll deal with it later.]

Mostly it just means I can see you in the living room so you don't, uh, choke on a nail or something unsupervised. Also keeps the air flow choice so you don't clog everything up when you're making smoked meats and stuff.

[Priorities!]

[armcollector]

That's absolutely nightmarish. I'm the one that has the most to lose in this situation.

[Since he's likely never gonna bring anyone home with him. Or fuck a ghost.]

I mean, heh, we're making a lot of demands here. We're literally in a place that looks like several tornadoes hit it, who knows what will even be available. Oh man, but does that mean you'll be doing the cooking?

[For as long as they've been together, Magnus has barely had the chance to try any of Taako's cooking. He's always hearing about how great it is, but has mostly just seen some macaroons come out of it and that's it.]

[pocketspa]

Too bad, sucker! That's the price you pay for the privilege of livin' with Taako and his Taako Time. It's just what's up.

[He goes for another whitty quip when Magnus speaks, and he feels... almost like the air had been knocked out of him, for a moment. He had thought about finally doing something after Refuge-- it wasn't his mistake after all, he was blameless, but he still didn't notice the poison being slipped in. Whether it was trust or cockiness, he can't say. But there wasn't much time with the rounds the Director had been putting them through, a plenty good excuse for not confronting his demons, and he kept just saying 'well, tomorrow' until it rolled into... this.

And now there might not be a tomorrow.

On one hand, people said they could come back to life here, so even if he did... something, it wouldn't matter. But he'd still be responsible, this time. No one to pin it on if he doesn't notice, no one to shoulder the blame. On the other hand, he misses it dearly, and no one else is going to be prepping meals for them... and if he doesn't make something for himself, he can't eat either. And he doesn't think he trusts Magnus to not eat something raw that really shouldn't be.

He shoves down the moment of panic as soon as it came, in only seconds. It's fine. He's fine. He makes sure his face is pulled into his usual grin, going for a noncommittal shrug like he hasn't a care in the world. Because he doesn't. Taako doesn't worry about the small stuff. He can handle it-- not that there's anything to handle in the first place.]

Yeah, guess it only took getting kidnapped to another plane for you to finally get the chance. If I cook, you do dishes though, that's the rules. Gotta keep these hands lookin' nice.

[armcollector]

Oh man, yeah, I'll do the dishes!

[If Magnus noticed Taako's moment of shock, he doesn't make any move to comment on it. If Taako wanted to talk about it, he'd talk about it.]

I can't remember the last time a celebrity chef cooked my dinner for me. Oh yeah, never.

[He knocks Taako's shoulder with his own playfully.]

I mean, it's about time. Wanna start tonight? I could use some dinner.

[pocketspa]

Yeah, well, you're gettin' a real treat my guy. Only the best for two friends stuck in a cave overnight or whatever.

[There goes Magnus being too nice about everything, all the time. He pushes back, but not much.]

How 'bout we uh, start with finding a place with dishes? Also food that isn't rice. I mean, I could make rice, but it'd still just be rice, and I'm not letting the first meal I make you be something that just involves boiling water. I'd kill for a freebie spice cabinet right about now.

[armcollector]

Yeah, okay. Yeah. We'll work on this whole thing. We'll get you a good fucking kitchen packed fulla free stuff. Holy shit, I am so hungry right now.

[Taako's gettin' a side hug. You better believe it. The firmest side hug known to elfkind.]

We can get more stuff, just real quick. I really need to eat.

[pocketspa]

[Buddy don't make him emotional, it's hard to look cool and aloof like this. Gosh.]

Yeah, yeah, we'll get something together. C'mon, let's go kick a door in, steal someone's shit, and take a house or whatever.

[You know, like, good ol' times.]