❪ 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

[thedarkbond]

[Ren is an intuitive sort, so even if he doesn't quite know what's going on with someone, he can frequently make a good guess. It seems like he's touched on something with that remark, at least, and he allows his expression to return to something lighter and more cheery.]

That's right. And it's the same for everyone, so at worst I guess we just all have to figure ourselves out together. Even if there's boring feuds going on around us as well.

[Between the Natha and Magda is the one he's mostly thinking of now, but Magda hasn't exactly made a good first impression on him.]

[thedarkbond]

[Ren pouts in a vaguely upwards direction.] Hmm, I guess I could do that...but a lot of the capable people are going to be up near the front...

[Which had been part of the problem in the first place, because it made them a lot harder to stick to when he kept falling behind.]

[thedarkbond]

[Ren hums a little as he sets the larger of the shards aside and goes for one of the smaller ones next. It'd be easier if he had tweezers, but his nails are long enough that he can pick with those delicately enough.

The bartender comes back with what looks to be some kind of wound wipe, and Ren gives her a passing thanks as he pulls free that smaller shard and flicks it to one side.]

Don't worry, I usually look just as incompetent as the rest of them~ [Not the most reassuring thing to say as he's setting about how to get out the last few fragments, but hey.] It's more fun that way. But I've never met a detective before, so I guess it's interesting for both of us.

[People also expect less of him on a variety of fronts if he acts incompetent, which is very useful. But one does eventually pick up life skills when their second-in-command has been grouching at them about it for ten years-ish.

He angles his fingers very carefully to pluck at a smaller, thinner shard.] Is there stuff you usually investigate, then?

[Presumably it doesn't involve a lot of blood...]

[thedarkbond]

Well, if you think about it, falling asleep isn't really a bad thing~ [Ignoring the possibility of getting attacked by someone from the village, or a wild animal, or something. Failing against that snowstorm, however, was likely a death sentence.

One of the many reasons Ren isn't exactly inclined to trust Magda's words.]

Hopefully we don't have to walk that far to get back to the station, I don't know if I could handle another trip like that so soon...

[thedarkbond]

[Ren notes the slight hesitation, but doesn't remark on it. It could mean any number of things, after all, and he doesn't know enough about this man yet to judge exactly what. He's intuitive, but not quite that intuitive.

When asked for his name, he gives a bright smile.] Suzugamori Ren, but just Ren is fine. I guess as long as we didn't forget to introduce ourselves at all, it's nothing to worry about~

[Admittedly, Ren's used to having to do it early as a trapping of business dealings, or people already knowing him by reputation, but it's kind of nice to be introducing himself normally again.]

Did they say how far away the place we're staying is...?

[nineteenfortyfive]

[When she hears a please, she figures she's gone too far.]

I'm sorry. I was just teasing.

[hellzone]

Is this a literal heart or a metaphorical heart?

[ because if it's literal...that's super gross, yo. ]

[thedarkbond]

Well, if they have coffee, I'll probably do better with that than I do alcohol. [He doesn't sound particularly ashamed to admit that, though it's pretty normal to be a bit of a lightweight where he's from. And his build definitely doesn't do him any favours with it either.

A bright smile crosses his face after that, though, as if it's not a big deal anyway.] But you're right, it seems like it's a pretty interesting time. With the undead dragon and nobody knowing this place was here before and everything. I just wish it hadn't come with that long trip here...

[His strong points do not lie in things like marching through snowstorms for days on end.]

[thedarkbond]

[That makes sense, otherwise he'd probably be wondering about why nobody from Earth had managed to find anything sentient within their own galaxy in his...universe, or however he's supposed to think about all this. The life he knows of in space is well further out than that.]

So what would I call someone from your planet, then? I don't want to be rude about that when there's so many people from different places here.

[And it's always interesting to learn that sort of thing, too. After a brief pause, he brightens a little like he just remembered something.]

Oh, and I should probably ask for your name, too...

[thedarkbond]

[Ren's fingers twitch momentarily at the question, though it's in the manner of someone shown something confronting they didn't expect. He has used a sword, technically speaking, but the circumstances in which he's used one isn't something he thinks he can discuss right now without letting a lot more of his feelings slip than he'd like to.]

I know a little bit about how to use one, but they're not really used in my world except for people who fight for sport. If I did more things like that, though, I probably would need to tie my hair up for it...

[Safe enough answer - he prefers not to lie outright if he doesn't have to, just half-truth, and this is enough of the truth to be accurate while not having to touch on the sensitive parts of the subject.]

[thedarkbond]

[Unfriendly expressions and attitudes don't tend to put Ren off in any way, so after he pushes himself off the bar and spots the person who happens to be sitting in front of the bartender, he drifts over with a rather absent and airy manner.

He sits two seats down, and...spins around on his stool like he'd only just noticed they do that. He's still spinning to a stop when he starts talking.]

So are you the person I should be asking about coffee? [It's a pretty straightforward question, though the way he puts it is in an almost airheaded manner, as if the cup in front of him isn't an obvious enough cue already.]

[hellzone]

[ By the time You's returned, Yoshiko has downright chugged more of Fallen Angel's Desire. She gives You a big, happy, dopey smile. ]

Hey, hey, You-chan. Now that there's two of us, we should start up Aqours again.

[ an idea that Yoshiko would probably see a few flaws in when she isn't more than slightly drunk. She will actually drink the water, though: Yoshiko picks up the cup and takes a few sips of it.

Not as good as her own drink, to be honest. ]

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto huffs out a breath of laughter at Jim's response. Yes, alright, he supposes he is being a bit daft about it. Pull yourself together Ianto. He flashes Jim another smile.

"It was classified," he confirms. "It's a hard habit to break, not talking about it. At least, I didn't talk about it. I'm pretty sure half the city about us in one way or another."

He sets the scanner down on the counter beside him. "My boss had the name of the agency stenciled on the side of the SUV for a while. A decision made before he hired me, mind. I'm not sure he really understood the meaning of 'classified', to be honest."

[thetaintedsorrow]

[SNATCHES HIS HAT BACK WITH A PISSY LOOK...]

Only because you didn’t play fair.

[Another adorable sneeze. Damn it, Chuuya should’ve worn more than his long coat out here, like a sweater or some snow boots...]

If I get sick I’m wiping my snot all over you.

[insist]

I see. Tell me a real story, then. It's only fair after I lent you my coat, isn't it?

[ He won't take no for an answer!! ]

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto contemplates making a comment about John watching his ass in other ways but in truth he's not certain if he does. If he really is interested in him in such a way as that. So he leaves it where it is. Giving the other man a 'very funny' sort of a look as he lets him have the bathroom in turn.

He takes the time to tidy his things a little while John is in there, at least. Unpack and poke about the room. He's just wondering exactly how they're going to share this bed when John emerges, shirtless and dripping and Ianto decides he might just. Hover by the wardrobe for a moment longer, tidying his clothes, even if he's technically already tidied them once already.

"It's awfully helpful of them, to supply us with devices we'd need to carry with us wherever we go," Ianto muses aloud, following the other man's train of thought as he watches him fiddle with the cuff out of the corner of his eye.

[torchwoodteaboy]

[If Ianto had had the time, he might have turned the right nob on the device to at least unfreeze the image. Then at least whatever Prior might have been seeing on it would be whatever he'd see through it. Ianto's own skeleton, perhaps, if he'd had it pointed the right way. But Prior had startled him and the image had stuck and. There it was. In all its -- well, glory was one of putting it.

Ianto swallows, pressing his lips together tightly for a moment before nodding slightly. Forcing himself to meet the other man's eyes. He can at least owe him the courtesy of doing that, considering how brazenly he knows he's invaded his privacy. He can't even say that he didn't mean to. He had known exactly what he was doing. He just hadn't meant to be doing it on someone who...]

It's... Something like it. We call it a. Bekaran deep tissue scanner. Bekaran because. Well. That's where it came from. And because it can scan...

[He trails off awkwardly, knowing how wrong it is that he's done this but at least he owes him the truth.]

It's. Sort of like an x-ray and an MRI all rolled into one, only a lot better. From. What I understand, anyway.

[Owen would have been able to explain this better. Too bad he's not here to pin the blame on instead.]

[impavid]

"No kidding," John says, and lifts a corner of his towel to rub absently at his hair. "It's not exactly got much in the way of feedback, so I'm hoping it's off."

He tried to will it to turn off? It doesn't seem to be doing whatever it did before, anyway. He sighs and throws it back toward his bag, rubs the towel through his hair more vigorously.

"I guess maybe we can wrap them in towels in case they aren't, muffle anything they record."

You know, a token effort. He sighs and lets the towel drop to his shoulders again, leans back on his hands and stares blandly at the ceiling.

"Remember when you were complaining about the heat?"

His lips twitch into a fond sort of smile. This is what you get, Ianto. Complain about the heat and you get a snowstorm instead.

[priorly]

Oh.

[Prior's pitch lifts, but the corners of his mouth are edged downward as he looks at the scan. He can't tell exactly what the images imply, other than being familiar with his various diagnoses already but it's still...

well, it's looking at something he'd rather didn't exist. Like a gorgeous former bully at a class reunion. It's like looking at someone he doesn't really like.

After a moment he hums a laugh and hands it back to Ianto.]

I can't read this - they're all inkblot tests to me. Are you some kind of doctor, or something, in your top secret life back home?

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto lets out a snort of laughter at that, moving at last to pad softly and perch on the edge of the (quite large) bed beside the other man.

"I suppose that you get what you wish for, in the end," he replies, with a quirk of a smile of his own. He moves to cross his legs at the ankles, since it really is chilly, even though it's warmer than it is outside, honestly John he doesn't understand how you are going about so scantily clad (though he's hardly complaining about it either).

"I wonder what I should start complaining about next," he muses aloud.

[ukase]

"Sounds like an upper class snob to me," he replied with a shrug of his shoulders. It wasn't that he couldn't appreciate those things, but he certainly wasn't going to go out of his way to have them either. He had more important goals in mind. "Is he like whoever you're friends with or dating or whatever now?"

It was my job. That might have been the first statement Venom had said which made complete sense to him, and he nodded his head sagely. "I get that sentiment. Now you've become something more. You better appreciate what building up to that means."

[colorature]

_{[She would tire the tiger out no doubt, that's for sure.]}

Lawn mowing?

_{[She cocks her head to the side at that, giving the path the snowball is leaving in the ground a second take. It's an interesting parallel to make, but she can see where he's coming from.]}

I guess it is a bit like that.

[inaurare]

No, not at all.

[but the main method of overcoming the sleep ward hadn't been so good for Linneus. He wasn't at all used to smoking strange herbs...]

The storm seemed a little fiercer the closer we drew to the city. So perhaps in the opposite direction it may be easier.

[impavid]

"The cold, I assume. Though we're already starting in on the AI."

He glances over at Ianto, studies him a long moment before nudging their shoulders together.

"If you're cold get under the blankets, that's what they're for."

Being warm, and sleeping under. You know. He reaches out to give Ianto's arm a gentle squeeze then pushes to his feet so he can dig for a t-shirt to put on, vaguely dropping his towel to one side.

[kikoku]

[A goth an a skeleton have a chance meeting: an accidentally very halloweeny thread.]

I'll see what I can do, but don't go using it as an excuse to just go and strain yourself all over again... Are you able to flip over so I can look at your back?
[He pauses a moment before making an irritated, almost embarassed face.]

Also, your name. I suppose I should ask that. Mine- I'm Trafalgar Law.
[Probably a better name than "that awkward goth doctor, which is how he should be remembered.]