❪ introlog: #6 ❫ city of secrets

[natha]

You've spent the last few days on Thesa Station, taking in the knowledge that your world is no more. Now, the time to put all your survival training into practice has arrived: El Nysa needs you, and you're here to help the planet thrive. Are you ready? THE DESCENT     All refugees on the station are called to the hangar, where a large-scale teleporter awaits. Simply step onto the space between the arrays and wait; everyone will be sent down to the planet together. Before they depart, all refugees will be given a cold weather survival kit with warm clothing, rations, and bedding. The arrays build into a brilliant wash of light, creating a column that travels all the way from Thesa Station to the surface of El Nysa, teleporting the refugees to the planet on an aurora. Once on the planet's surface, refugees receive one last message from Darma. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet we must ask you to brave further peril. Within Nadril are the secrets to how poor Ysverai's revival was hidden from our sight and how this disaster has come to our star. Find the first refugee from beyond this planet, a man named Magda. He will not speak to us, for much has come between us, but to you… If you prove yourselves, he may be willing to answer your questions. We beseech you, for there is a veil over Nadril that hides all within from us. There may yet be more untold dangers waiting to befall this planet. For the good of all who make this world home, we ask you to lend us your aid. There is yet one more favor we would ask of you. In warding off the Storm's encroachment, the physical aspect of ourselves that you call Thesa Station was damaged. We must remain to continue repairs to El Nysa and to deal with Ysverai, but there should be suitable technology within Nadril that could be used for spare parts. If you have the chance to find it and can return it to us, it would hasten— Darma's message crackles with static, another image overlaying hers — her broadcast is cut off and replaced with another. A more sullen and alien voice takes Darma’s place, overlapping on itself in an ominous reveal. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet you’ve only just arrived here. To say I’m not disappointed in your… generation would be to lie, and I am nothing if not an honest creature. But I suppose these have been unusual circumstances. You must ask yourself this — are you only here as Darma's lapdogs? I can assure you, it's not worth being on the Natha's leash. With time, that will be something you'll have to learn for yourself. If you're so determined to come find Nadril, then follow the path north, and you'll find the border. What awaits you is revelation, if you're up to the challenge. A FROZEN LAND     The refugees land on a literally frozen world, both in temperature and time. Curls of icy wind hold swirls of snow aloft and an uncanny silence is broken only by the crunch of hoarfrost underfoot. Only Darma's protection allows the refugees to move through this frozen world — and movement is very necessary. Bitter cold sneaks through even the thickest clothing and without warning, a snowstorm rises: unnaturally quickly, a wall of white howls directly in the refugee's path. Bizarrely, the way back is perfectly calm; it's obvious that this storm is no product of nature. Magda's challenge becomes clear: the only way to Nadril lies through this storm. Visibility within the storm is near zero, the whiteout hiding any landmarks from view and making navigation near impossible. The only guidance refugees have is a sporadic path of faint, greenish lights, easily lost in the raging storm. Refugees need all the survival skills they practiced on Thesa Station to survive, for getting lost alone is a death sentence. Luckily, those separated from the group can happen upon guiding lights Magda has planted throughout the tundra. These blue-white sparks cause frostbite if handled recklessly, but they also serve as directional anchors, turning into ghostly flames that lead lost souls back to the path to Nadril. The trek through the storm will be no mean feat and will last for the better part of three days. By the time the refugees reach Nadril's gate, most will find themselves exhausted and running on fumes. As the snowstorm dies away and a gap in the glittering forcefield around the city opens to usher the refugees inside, it's clear that Nadril is a different beast. A WARM(?) WELCOME     I. Despite the unforgiving journey, entering Nadril is painless. Once inside, characters will be greeted by their predecessors: the original refugees who made this advanced city. They'll immediately be offered medical attention, as well as warm cider and blankets. But it's obvious that the Nadril citizens prefer higher tech to fend off the weather: they also offer wristlets and ear cuffs that that double as mittens and earmuffs by creating warm bubbles of air. The earrings also feature a few quality of life programs, such as timed alarms and thought-to-speech messaging. However, both programs are in beta stages so it's not unusual for a stray thought to accidentally slip through or an alarm to accidentally ring at an inopportune time. II. Refugees are offered free lodging in a large, crystalline building crafted from ice. Despite the coarse building material, the ice is unmelting and surprisingly well-insulated, and the beds are as warm and cozy. The rooms are, however, small. The sleeping quarters house two people, and are some cross between an igloo and a capsule hotel. Though built for efficiency over comfort, all rooms are also outfitted with the latest Nadril AI, RoboAlfred, or Ralf for short. This helpful program is installed in practically all the furnishings: the closet tells guests to bundle up, the bathroom sink reminds them to brush their teeth, and the mirror offers helpful fashion tips. Ralf's personality matrix still needs polish, though: it may very well insult your clothes and passively-aggressively question your lifestyle choices for the entire stay. III. Though not as advanced as Thesa Station, the colony has technology far beyond the rest of the continent, such as rudimentary AIs and mechanical transportation. Nadril's skyline is a point of pride — refugees can take a (literal) lightrail that gives an aerial view of the colony, which is hewn almost entirely from ice and rock. Despite its tech, Nadril is much more sparsely populated than Olympia and Wyver, and its residents stay near a central hub: a Natha refugee drop ship, Central, which has crashed and long embedded itself into the earth. Central is similar to an older, smaller, grounded model of Thesa Station, in functional order with round-the-clock solar power. Within Central are lounges similar to ones on the Station, though many of the damaged areas have been converted. They include repair stations, different wings dedicated to science, botany, astrology, and mechanics, and a research and history facility, which has a smattering of technology from planets beyond El Nysa — including your own. The staff here don't mind if anything is sampled and studied, but objects cannot be taken from the labs. IV. On the outskirts of the central hub, many will find several curious looking bots with insect-like wings perched about high traffic walkways. Simply passing the bots will cause a dizzying flash before a series of photos print out. Upon closer inspection, people will find that these images reflect stills taken from their home worlds as they remember it. Unfortunately, these photos only last a couple of hours at best. At that time, they will revert back to regular pictures of the refugees. People will be encouraged to share these images of their worlds. The residents of Nadril comprehend the value of remembering one's origins, and will be pleased to see that people still hold memories of old homes close to them. RECREATION IN NADRIL     I. Small, mechanical creatures scampering through the city are a common sight. Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you that they come from a shop called Paws About Town. They’re very useful, as companions, gophers, and couriers (though the more mischievous will note that they’re just small enough to keep tabs on people without being noticed). Premade robotic pets are available on display inside the shop. They come in all shapes, but small sizes; one may be able to find robots that even look like miniature creatures from their homeworld. These are a part of a new, highly customizable line with programmable personalities. Customers have the chance to take pets for a one-day trial run. Those who don’t know how to program may want to enlist more knowledgeable aid, but the pets come with instructional pamphlets for basic personality traits such as obedience, helpfulness, playfulness, and bloodthirst. For returns, the switch to wipe the robot's personality to a blank slate is on the back of its neck, right between a switch to invert all traits, and a switch to have them learn by observing. Try not to press the wrong switch — you might wind up with a pet with a mind of its own! II. A. The Frosty Tap Cantina is a thriving hub of activity, but one of the major draws is the self-service bar: molecular mixology is wildly popular here. Playing with drink compositions can be a game in and of itself, and newcomers to the cantina will find that the bartender — a cheerful woman with lilac skin and three eyes — is always happy to give them a few tips on how to use the wide array of tools within reach of the barstools. All manner of drinks are possible — from glowing, layered cocktails, to clear drinks with colored, spherical bubbles and vividly-colored shots that give off their own smoke. There's a nightly contest in the cantina for the most creative drink created by a team — this may be as good a time as any to partner up with someone and see what can you come up with. Winner gets all their drinks for the night free! And, hey, even if you don't win, you get to drink whatever you make. The well-lubricated patrons of the bar are eager to challenge anyone nearby to a different sort of drinking game… Just how well can you hold your liquor? B. Holo-screens in the cantina are nearly always broadcasting some match or another of a game that looks very much like hockey, albeit played with sticks that light up and a puck that changes shape from time to time. Colonists here merely refer to the game as "the sport," and one of their favored pastimes is betting. However, they don't use currency — they wager dares. Nadril colonists are a tough, weathered lot, and they prefer to speak with actions over silver. Colonists will urge the refugees to take part as well. Common dares range from the ridiculous (lead a sing-a-long, attempt to make someone with a poker face smile) to the suggestive (kiss the person in the cantina you find most attractive, strip off a piece of clothing), to the outright reckless (venture out into the snow for a certain amount of time, and no one will judge if you find some company to keep warm). The colonists are unfazed by even the most insane or tawdry of dares — but you'll certainly be called a killjoy for refusing too often! Why not grab a friend and give it a whirl, or challenge a rival to a dare yourself? THE MISSION     I. On the outskirts of Nadril is the communications tower of the old refugees. This is where Magda resides, monitoring Nadril's technological protections, the extent of the Natha’s influence, and running his own personal projects for El Nysa’s technological advancement. It is isolated, filled with research labs and relics of the past refugees who have come to El Nysa — a living mausoleum of worlds swallowed up by the Storm whose peoples have refused to forget where they came from. Crew photos line the walls of the tower: pictures of alien families and friends, the refugees who came to Nadril before you. Each group of photos gradually becomes smaller in number, and the most recent of the pictures are from half a century ago. Magda's picture can be found among the first group of refugees, an unusually small cluster of photos dating back centuries in El Nysa's past. I have been on this planet for nearly two centuries. Life has come, evolved, and collided in an ever expanding culture. But Darma fears interference, and made this place a prison, with she our warden, stifling the growth of the creatures native to this world rather than encouraging them to flourish. She sent you here for answers in her stead because she knows I'll spurn her, and after seeing what that fool Raysc has wrought, I'll give you them — not for Darma's sake, but because I trust after all the Natha have done to you, you'll understand my decision. Mistakes were made, and I won't hide them. You've made it here so there's some mettle to you, and unlike the Orbiters, I'm not interested in hiding the secrets of the dangers we face. I gave Raysc what he needed to keep his actions hidden from Darma's eyes — what he needed to advance the primitive magics the Natha had doomed him to. It was old Natha tech, Darma's very own used against her. Hilarious, isn't it? Raysc learned of Nadril, and like you, braved the snow to find his way here. He proved his worth and his determination, and he spoke of a brighter future, El Nysa coming into its own, its people realizing their true potential, unhindered by the shackles that had been put upon them. I believed him. He had vision — or so I thought. In truth, he was a fool. A madman. He wasted the opportunity I gave him on his petty vengeance. But not everyone on this planet is such an idiot. Surely you lot aren't. The Natha are hiding things from us — about the Storm, about everything. And here in Nadril, we're going to find all those secrets. What's it going to be? Will you help us, or are you going to stay obedient dogs on Darma's leash? Magda isn't too talkative yet; after all, the new flock of refugees may just be here as eyes and ears for the Orbiters. But what he has said leaves you with plenty to talk about, and if you can earn his trust by helping out around Nadril, he doubtless has a great deal more to reveal. II. Central isn't the only Natha ship that made its way to El Nysa — another, crashed just outside Nadril's borders, is little more than a junk heap. It's here that you'll find the spare parts Darma asked you to retrieve for Thesa Station. What remains of the ship's hull serves as a windbreak, and snow has built up against it, turning the piles of old Natha tech inside into something of a snowy morass. Holes in the deck offer would-be scavengers passage to the ship's innards, barely illuminated with flickering lights — the tech is old, but hardy enough to withstand a crash landing, the severe weather, and the passage of centuries. Deep in the wreck are the remains of living quarters, research labs, VR arenas, mecha bays, cafeterias, and a host of other rooms, many of which may seem familiar from Thesa Station, albeit with a decidedly older feel to what remains of the smooth curves and sleek surfaces of the Natha architecture. Most of the ship's systems are damaged and the technology is nonfunctional, but that just means there's plenty of spare parts to be found. The wreck isn't in the best shape, its structural integrity damaged, and the drifting snow threatens to block off exit routes. Be careful while exploring and be sure to bring a partner. As it turns out, Darma isn't the only one interested in the wreck — Magda is also eager to get his hands on Natha technology. In his own way of taking some responsibility for Raysc, he's asking scavengers to bring him parts, muttering about seeing what he can do about Ysverai's curse. Bring him anything that looks useful, and he may have a chance to succeed, though whether he'll be more effective than the Natha Orbiters is up for debate... FINAL OOC NOTES     An AC-eligible thread with a new character as a participant for 2 NADRIL REP POINTS may be submitted from this log. SUBMIT THE THREAD HERE BY AUGUST 5TH, 11:59 PM EST. As always, feel free to create your own prompts and explore the Nadril location page! There are a variety of activities made available, including fishing and cave exploration! Please direct questions to the questions thread below! Thank you! QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[conqueredhearts]

Really! Well you have a good eye all the same!

[Of course he returns his smile with a giant one of his own.]

Hello, Ren! I am Iskandar! It is wonderful to meet you!

[conqueredhearts]

I see no reason to be bitter. It will hardly help anything and certainly won't make me or anyone else feel better about the situation.

[Honestly he feels he has a point about that anyway. Then again, Iskandar often does so that sort of goes without saying too.]

I am the King of Macedonia. Though also a Pharaoh of Egypt and King of Persia.

[You know. Hot places.]

[conqueredhearts]

A barbarian? Ah! Because of my size, yes?

[He laughs and looks utterly delighted to be thought of in this fashion. He supposes it might even be accurate on some level.]

No. I was never a barbarian. In fact my Kingdom that I ruled was known for being ahead of its time in cultural and artistic advancement! Why, I even love the arts and sciences more than I enjoy participating in sport!

[conqueredhearts]

It would seem that a number of people have heard of me actually! It's quite the honor!

[Which is not an introduction. Oops. He slams his fist against his chest with an audible thump as he grins down at the other man.]

I am Iskandar! The King of Conquerors! Here I have found many know me by the name history remembers me for which is Alexander the Great!

[conqueredhearts]

Mars! Amazing! I want to be able to go there one day!

[He looks juuuuuuuuust about ready to ask five million questions about Mars when he's instead asked about his own home. To which he smiles brightly.]

Of course. Every place you go is simply a home waiting to embrace you. This is what I believe.

[conqueredhearts]

[Don't worry. He won't judge you, friend.]

Not long at all! It is quite the fascinating place though, don't you think? And this is my first time getting to behold snow as well! It is such an amazing creation of nature!

[conqueredhearts]

Of me? Or you?

[He chuckles and winks at him playfully.]

Don't you worry about what others think. I am pleased to be able to carry you. Besides, I confess I find myself very attracted to you so I will gladly take any excuse to embrace you.

[To which he grins down at him shamelessly. Others might find it flustering to just be this open about what is on their mind but he's never been this way. This is what he thinks. No filters.]

[conqueredhearts]

Please! I am intrigued to see what the cards hold for me!

[Resting his hands on his knees, he leans forward now so that he can see what the cards will tell him.]

Ah! And remind me to buy you a drink after this!

[conqueredhearts]

[His red eyes suddenly go wide as if he's never considered that possibility before. To be able to punch away a storm would be amazing!]

You're right! It is too bad I cannot do this!

[Bursting out laughing, he smiles again before nodding to her body.]

Ah does your body handle the cold then? I am still learning about your kind through you so you will have to be patient with me as I obtain new information.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Even though it's a joke that John has already made Ianto lets out an abrupt bark of laughter at the thought of it. John's not the only one who's felt the tension rising during this conversation, and it's good to let a little of it out with that.

Sitting forward, he runs his fingers through his hair, taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, before he speaks again. Feeling the need to make one final point clear.

"John..." He presses his lips together, keeping his eyes directed down to the floor as he tries again. "There may have been a part of me that compared you to Jack when we first met. And maybe there are pieces of you that are similar. I expect there are pieces of you that have to be. But that's not why..."

He trails off again, before deciding to just go in for the kill. Turning in his seat to look back at the other man, his blue eyes a little guarded and a little uncertain, but oh so honest. "That's not why I-- like you. I just. I need you to know that, yeah?"

They both know he might have used a different word in that sentence. You don't weep over the thought of losing someone you like. But Ianto figures he's pushed the other man enough for one day and anyway, his point is clear enough.

[impavid]

Right. John flicks his eyes uneasily sideways, then after a moment of mental debate reaches out and runs his arm around Ianto's shoulders -- tugs him to lean into his side.

"My jokes are better, right?"

That's totally what it is. He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, letting his fingers lift to rub affectionately at Ianto's hair.

[colorature]

<sub>[Well that was short lived. Good thing he hadn't witnessed the slaughter she'd created under the dragon's influence.

Whatever cheery expression she might have had falls just as quick as it had come at the tone of his voice. It's her own fault, she thinks, for expecting anything other than judgement. Everyone is always so quick to judge the worst of her, to brand her a monster, and really she does herself a disservice in changing that perception. Even so, she had been trying to ask more, but it'd be a lie if she'd said she asks every time. Her track record isn't the best, but it is improving.

Then again it's hard to think to ask when you're out of your mind.]</sub>

Do what? Feed myself?

_{[As much as she's bristling she looks deceptively non-threatening, especially with the way she's bundled up.]}

I was trying to be honest. I'm not perfect. Sometimes instinct has gotten the best of me.

[colorature]

_{[She...really thinks she's lying, huh.]}

You think I'm lying, don't you?

_{[The closer she gets the more real those fangs in Diva's mouth are gonna look.]}

I can prove my inhumanity to you, if you'd like.

_{[She may be smiling but it's forced. Unnatural and unsettling. She hates this, being seen as a liar.]}

[stargatemedic]

Is she? It's kind of complicated, actually, but of the people she knows?

"I am," she finally decides on. "All the people I knew back home are still in stasis." Like they were back home, where she'd left them. "And you can call me TJ."

[stargatemedic]

"There's someone here that outranks me and I'll probably discuss it with him, but he's not--" How to explain? It didn't even really make sense to her. "He's Air Force, anyway. I'll ask." And then probably do her own thing anyway. Maybe.

Watching him as he watches himself, she gets the impression that he's just as interested in his hands as she is and she adds, "And if that happens again, come find me." It's followed by a grin now that she's gotten over the initial shock of his teasing, despite his attempt at expectation.

TJ leans a little close, too, like she's going to impart some great classified information right then and says, just loud enough for him to hear, "One that should really go before the real trouble starts."

He gets a wink as she makes it clear that he's the trouble and she steps away.

[stargatemedic]

"Not that long ago," TJ concedes, figuring there's something about her that gives her that special 'look', not to mention that, if this woman's been around for a while, she wouldn't have recognized her before. "And I'm guessing you've been around for a while?"

Even while they talk, TJ is still doing her best to keep an eye on the people that they can see - which aren't many as the snow storm intesnifies.

[colorature]

Yes!

_{[Just...don't mind her if she squeezes a little tighter. Honestly she'll take any solution at this point, whether it be a hex or not.]}

Henry I'll try anything.

_{[May or may not be a smart idea but Diva's not exactly known for her brains. Impulsive tendencies are what usually rule her and right now is no exception.]}

don't play games with my heart

[illuminating]

[She lightly pants into one of those wolfish smiles at this praise, her ears wiggling once, tail coming up to wag and wag. After a couple steps back, she tensely shakes her pelt, being of help vitalizes her.

In an earnestness to continue being beneficial, she's already trotting further into the ship, exuding confidence.]

[hellzone]

Is there a bard school on the spaceship?

[ Because she's pretty sure there isn't on back in Japan. Unless by "bard school", Nott means "undergraduate program with a focus on music." ]

[hellzone]

[ Yoshiko frowns a little, thinking to herself. All the questions she can think of are stupid...it'd be a bit dumb to ask "what's your favorite food" right after this conversation they just had. A few seconds later, she comes up with one. ]

What's the thing that you did that you're the most proud of?

[ and then she pulls a card, I roll a d20, and Yoshiko gets a 17! She is very obviously surprised at the fact that she pulled such a high number card. ]

[illuminating]

[In the playful manner of wolves and canines, while You talks to her, Ammy tosses her gloved hand between teeth. There's no pressure; it's nothing but teasing, a need for nearness, hand-holding without a hand, and it's sure to be easy to see and feel she means no threat or harm.

Summers aren't too bad. She sheds this thick coat, for the most part, but it's absolutely true that winters are more bearable. She probably copes with summer better than the average wolf, however, having such a connection to the sun. Winters don't get to her; spring is her favorite; all seasons are necessary and wonderful in their own way.

She keeps slushing through the snow along side her, if, presently, for no other reason than to listen to her talk and provide her with a little company. But her muzzle, ears, and gaze keep turning out to the distance to listen out for the others, someone who may need her with more urgency. She has the disposition of someone, or a being, too distracted to be wholly enjoying themselves, as if she can't put work or obligations out of mind. This could be mistaken for the intensity of a wolf, though. Those ears can hear ten miles out, so who knows what sounds she's picking up while they walk.]

[defenses]

[ both are wonderful life lessons and morals to keep. he knew he could rely on you, buddy!

that is a very cute gif, and somehow makes this situation infinitely softer. somehow being the keyword. in reality, vane's ear just feels wet and warm. taking the considerable cold to heart, the latter may have not bee entirely bad, no— but, there are definitely people whispering about them. not that vane seems to be paying much attention to that either. instead, once the alarm simmers down a little, dying out occasionally before picking back up— ] Oh!!?

[ he perks up from his original (and slightly sheepish) form. ] Oh... [ but he also droops back a little when it doesn't seem to be letting up much. still, it seems keaton is always a step ahead of him as he also feels those series of licks? his eyes widen up again and he winces a little. ] C'mon now! That's ticklish! [ he grips onto keaton's shoulder as he does he best to withhold his laughter. he doesn't do a very good job.

either way, it seems the wolfskin's idea works bc he doesn't feel the earring on him anymore?? ]

[hellzone]

Indeed they do. [ And she turns towards Takasugi, still doing a dramaticass pose. ]

Do you want to fall with Yohane and join her legion of little demons?

[illuminating]

Do you know, [ while she cants head to indulging in his kind fingers, ] I've never let myself get stuck on the idea of 'being watched.' Perhaps because I don't have anything to hide. My intentions and the actions that follow them are always direct.

It must be difficult for those who are harboring something, however.

[ukase]

Ah well, sorry you had to show up to wander around a frigid wasteland. Olympia and Wyver were far better established and disgustingly humid.

[He tilted his head at the simple explanation, reading there was more to the story than just leaving the hammer behind. It wasn't his duty or his place to press, not yet anyway. He was fine asking around instead.]

Probably in the same place you left your long flowing locks? Ladies go crazy for you on instragram.