❪ 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

[flask]

[Nott pauses.]

I was thinking more like... vision and dental...

[But this sounds way better, actually. Free protection and help with her problems? Sign her up!]

You're a fallen angel? Do you have wings? Do you know someone named Yasha? Is she a fallen angel? What's Aqours? Is it a cult?

[Excuse this array of questions. This is now a reverse job interview. Nott asks the questions here.]

i. ROAST THEM

[larsenist]

[ He stops abruptly as he's addressed, turning to face the red-haired woman with a puzzled look on his face. The AI, as if sensing his confusion, chimes in for a second opinion as well. 'Go on, be honest. Tell her how she looks.' (It takes him a second to connect the dots—fashion advice?—and he blinks awkwardly, wishing Ann were in his place.) ]

It's fine?

[ As far as he's concerned... (What else are they supposed to wear in this weather?? ...And actually, what does her usual uniform look like...)

The voice makes a tsk tsk of displeasure, and immediately turns on the boy instead. '"Fine," he says. This one doesn't even know how to use a comb!'

On cue, Akira plucks at his low-hanging fringe, before relinquishing with a shrug. ]

[planetary_bonds]

[That actually gets Yusei to laugh a little. She's not wrong, in a sense.]

Ah, but how much of those are cages of your own making?

[He knows about that. Isn't he guilty of such a thing himself? Keeping to only his friends, only his closest bonds, never wandering beyond that small world until Jack forced his hand?]

...Like...the ones from those strange cameras?

[Pictures taken from the heart. He can't quite bring himself to look at them.]

[reek]

Recently.

[ Don’t be stupid, he almost spits, but he just responds flatly instead. Maximus has been patient with him, and the least he can do is try not to lose his temper. Things have been difficult for both of them. Theon has just barely managed to keep his sanity about him throughout this entire situation, and he has no right to judge Maximus and his behavior.

Of course, he doesn’t actually know what Maximus is doing. He doesn’t know how wires and programs and AIs work, but he does know he dislikes them immensely. Still, he doesn't ask. He stays out of the way. ]

Sometime today.

[maipokerface]

... Maybe. The pictures I got from those things didn't exactly look like the ones in the tower.

[Now they might, given it's been a few hours. There's a bitter pang deep down though at the thought of what they had reflected before. Still, she can ward that off somewhat with a huffed breath and a quirked brow.]

That's what people do best. We make cages for ourselves and we enforce them.

[It's more than a little philosophical but she recognizes easily that she's been caging herself up for many, many years.]

[fisherwife]

[You know, there are a lot of moments when Mipha wishes she'd hit her next couple growth spurts (if she ever will, who knows how things work anymore) and grow big and tall, like her brother. She'd be able to protect those she cares about a little better that way an maybe others wouldn't be as concerned about protecting her.

But then things like this happen and she's suddenly very grateful that she's on the smaller side. he angles her head to steal another kiss before she lets herself be bundled up against him. She figures they probably look a little ridiculous, but she is starting to feel better.]

Better. I used to think having to wear clothing would be a bit of a bother, but I'm very grateful for it all now. But-- [It's a stupid, silly thing to worry about, but she to make sure, okay? So she continues her question:] This won't be tiring for you?

[planetary_bonds]

I suppose that's how society works. Everyone has their own cage, their own piece of the world. We'd go mad if we tried to welcome everyone into our world, or reach out to everyone else's.

[His smile is wistful, and his eyes look distant, as if he's not quite looking at anything in particular...instead staring somewhere far away.]

And yet...sometimes, we wish to try anyway.

1

[illuminating]

[She's been trying to stretch herself thin. She's been trying to keep every person present in her line of sight, which she cannot do. No one can do that. So she does the best she can in another way, rounding and rounding to tend to people who are straggling, or may need her assistance otherwise. When she finds him, she makes no drawing, loud display of herself, only walks in his peripheral, a little behind.

At any point, she's close enough, that if he looks back, he'll see it's her, but her presence is nearly as obvious. Familiarity. She's warily patient, letting him make his way at first on his own, not intervening, but when he slips a fourth time, he'll feel her at the side of his legs, urging him steady on his feet with the pressing of her weight. She has the claws and toes constructed for this kind of terrain, and she's sturdy, she doesn't lose balance.]

1/2

[maipokerface]

[She blinks at Yusei a moment, standing there with his wistful smile and his distant gaze. And then she makes an amused sound, actually smiling for once herself.]

You're a real philosopher there.

[personalwar]

[ It's not like Magda is the first person to use them as errand boys. Cree and Voss had been the same, to say nothing of the Natha themselves. While 76 could leave it to the other refugees to handle things, it only makes sense to stay busy in this bitter cold, and he also figures that there's something to be gained by working with Magda. He's the first refugee, supposedly, which means there's got to be a lot more that he hasn't told them.

If delivering him the parts he needs is a way to earn his trust, then so be it.

There's plenty to discuss, though, and 76 isn't surprised to run into Ocelot on his way to the other ship. The cold winds are rougher here at the outskirts, and 76 is bundled up appropriately, but still easily identifiable.

The question is one that 76 has already considered, and so he's quick to answer. ] I'm sure Magda isn't telling us everything, but he didn't have to admit to being the one who gave Rasyc what he needed. It seems pretty clear that his beef with the Natha is legitimate, and you know I never trusted them from the start. [ It's not like 76 thinks Magda is the answer to all their problems, but he already likes him better than Darma and the others. ]

[maipokerface]

And sometimes it just doesn't work out.

[Her own smile turns a touch wistful.]

It's still pretty nice to try though.

[illuminating]

[With any luck, he'll realize in time she isn't intending cruelty. If nothing else, she's afraid. That's where this tone comes from. Motherly, as ever. She's heard much about what's happened during her time in Stasis, and she's on edge about people falling behind. About the potential of them freezing without her knowing, alone, or of some unseen thing snatching them away.

She steps to meet him the rest of the way, moving to put herself right below his palm and fingers.

It's thick, her coat she's referring to, so you can cling tightly. Tell me if you need to stop. She glances with a slight angle of her head back at him, Are you ready?]

III!

[larsenist]

[ Of all places to find Shujin's former Student Council President and ace tactician of the Phantom Thieves, it would be here. (Only just woken and already on duty, gathering intel and constructing her own truth... Their 'Queen' is diligent and fearsome as always.) Akira accidentally knocks an old tome off one of the tables in his surprise, stunned to see her wandering between the collection of artifacts. ]

...Makoto.

[ She's the last of them to wake, but certainly not the least, and he feels a rush of relief to see and to hear her in person once more. (It's been at least half a year now... He couldn't be happier to have his crew back, and he lets out a quiet huff, emotions subdued but earnest.)

He stoops down to retrieve the precious book he'd just thoughtlessly upended; hopefully he hasn't accidentally broken anything—or given his friend a jump scare in the process. ]

[hellzone]

[ hold the phone, she knows that name. Yasha, Yasha, where has she heard Yasha before...

There's a pause before Yoshiko's expression goes from confused to WAIT THE MOMENT, I FIGURED IT OUT. And she gives Nott a big ol'bright smile. ]

You know Molly, don't you! He's one of my other little demons! We talked about Yasha back on the space station.

i. hi I actually know like 10 whole French words, I’m a sham

[almaredemptoris]

[If Fergus realizes not that his thoughts can be heard, then Jean Valjean realizes not that what he hears was never spoken aloud. As such, he answers without delay.]

You may find that it is warmer closer to the fire, monsieur.

[Fergus may also find himself disappointed to see that in answer to his thoughts comes not a beautiful maiden but an old man. For his part, Jean Valjean’s wry words carry a shadow of reproach. He realizes in the same instant that this young man is familiar: they had met briefly aboard the station but were separated by the wildly malfunctioning doors once more before either could give his name.]

[planetary_bonds]

[The small laugh-like sound seems to bring Yusei back down to earth Nysa, and he blinks before sheepishly smiling and waving a hand.]

You started it.

[That's probably the closest to childish bickering Yusei's gotten in a long while.]

I think we'd go mad if we didn't try. Isn't that how people are? We can't remain stagnant for long.

[He says that, and yet he barely moves himself. Isn't that hypocritical?]

B once more with feeling

[notwagging]

[ it's the giggling that catches his attention, makes his ears swivel and wiggle as he searches for the source of the noise. whoever they are, they sound happy! elated! and Keaton certainly is interested by that, though not wanting to break up whatever fun thing might be going on.

but when he gets closer and is introduced, he doesn't even get a chance to say anything or ask questions. what is a CAW-nversationalist? what kind of name is Raymond? and why is the bird trying to peck him in between the eyes and go for his recently washed (under duress) hair and...

his...

tail?! ]

A-ah! Stop! I'll smash you into bits!

[ beaststone out. he's ready to destroy. ]

[maipokerface]

You think so, hm? What, like Magda up there, all alone in his tower?

[There's a good deal of sarcasm to her tone as she gestures her head with a nod toward the tower itself. Her arms cross over herself, mittens over her hands providing warmth if not looking particularly stylish.]

Maybe instead we would just freeze in place. Not going mad, not feeling much of anything really.

[Besides annoyance perhaps.]

[shashka]

[ if he can count on one person here to have a good handle on things, it's 76. in the year since they'd known one another, he'd developed a healthy enough respect for the other man, for as little as he spoke about himself.

(still, Ocelot had managed to discern more than a few things, and thanks to a brilliant stroke of luck, had his name handed to him on a proverbial silver platter.) ]

Depending on how you look at it, that could be a point for, or against him. I'd still say he's not much more trustworthy than our "benefactors".

[ he'd been honest about one thing, but it seems obvious that there's more that he's hiding. still... ]

But I'd be willing to listen to what he has to say about the Natha, especially since he seems to be able to block off their so-called "omniscience". Might make it easier to figure out what else they're hiding from us.

[ and his mind has been on one person in particular. running errands for the Natha, visiting John daily with the blind hope that he might wake up, but knowing he's under the thumb of someone with seemingly unlimited resources.

it was like the two of them had never actually escaped Zero and Cipher. ]

[planetary_bonds]

They do say it's lonely at the top. Maybe because there's nowhere else to go but down.

[He snorts, but keeps his pensive expression.]

Maybe it depends on where we end up getting stuck.

[Explain.]

[illuminating]

He's near her, and she doesn't mean to be rude, she doesn't have the rules for manners that people do. He's near her, so she knows he's fine, and she doesn't think to look at him yet. Her gaze and face are both intently pointed to the left, staring widely into the wind blown distance. One of her ears turning subtly, gauging the placing of snow-crushing foots steps, how many are close, are there some too far off. She has the bearing of someone on guard and watchful, and she doesn't regard him until his clicking.

The unmoving ear, closest to him, whips sharply to it, and then the rest of her follows, her ears folding passively with mumbling whines. Sheepish. She's sorry for not coming to him sooner; she's distracted. When she dips her head to learn him through his offered hand, her tail is already wagging, a little apologetically. It stops abruptly, however. She only sniffs for a couple seconds, and something, too far for regular ears, must catch her attention because her head and ears spring up tense to stare hard behind her.

She swipes tongue over nose, vibrates out a distressed whine, and then she's at it again. Two smaller howls, one medium-lengthened one, and then half of one when she seems to recall that she was going to greet him, moving to investigate up to his elbow once she's through for the minute.

Krile Baldesion | FFXIV

[baldesion]

[Warm-ish welcome]

[A]

[She ought to have known the full implication of what Darma meant for them to do when she started referring to the planet as "our star". That phrase walks hand in hand with hardship. Krile, while pleased to receive winter survival gear properly matched to her stature, finds a very real and constant struggle on the planet that few others face: the drifts are waist-high at minimum, and the force of the driving wind can stall her in her tracks, especially with all the extra weight of the pack she's carrying. She does everything she can to stay with the group and stick to the path. When the refugees set up camp, she has a confident smile to offer and a fair bit of healing for any faces or hands suffering frostnip. They'll get through it all right.

They are not far from Nadril - not that it's possible to tell in this relentless snow - when her strength gives way. Krile stops, puzzled by the shapes of those around her blurring and going all barely-visible. For just a moment she stops feeling the cold. That's odd. Her feet are still moving through...

Then she topples gently over.]

[B]

[No matter how much she wants to dig in to the mission of discovering all there is to learn about Nadril, after her personal disaster in the snow, Krile could use some time to get her energy back. That leaves her, newly sporting both a set of wristlets and a matching ear cuff, bundled up in blankets in an empty bedroom. Apparently this is to serve as their living quarters while they are here.

And it doesn't stay empty for long, because someone comes through the door just as she's pondering whether she feels up to some exploring after all.]

Oh? [Unless it's one of her friends with more hot cider, she wasn't expecting any company.] Are you sure this is the room you're after?

[Meanwhile, a voice near said door intones, Please kindly knock before entering.]

--

[Exploration]

[Back on her feet and ready to get to work, Krile finds herself immediately drawn to the abandoned and repurposed halls of Central. She spends probably too much time in the slow study of their dedication to science, to disparate technology, to the passing of the stars.

A familiar blue glow on her periphery calls her to turn, and what she sees there nearly knocks her over for the second time in as many days. An aethernet shard, complete with the calming float and metal framework keeping it in place, all lit and spinning as if it had somewhere to connect. Krile swallows very hard. A glance around reveals no one close enough to stop her from reaching for it. Trying to attune, one hand outstretched, aether breaching the distance between her hand and the stone...and nothing else changing at all.

The idle, smooth nose wiggles and tail twitches of a mechanical squirrel atop her hood might draw more attention than her rapt and despairing silence.]

--

[The Mission]

[She knows better than to dare go delving for parts without a partner. For one thing, she'd have a hard time bringing back anything sizable on her own, and for another one simply does not venture forth into a frigid clime alone. Gods, they barely all made it together. Leaving the surprisingly friendly borders of the city behind, Krile and her tundra buddy make their way to the other crash site.

Some rudimentary fiddling with unbroken screens and wires turns up nothing. The power source is gone. But they can salvage whole parts regardless, can they not?

She's in much better spirits with the jewelry to warm her hands and face while she works at unbolting the panel over the base of a long-dead information screen.]

I don't suppose we managed to bring a better tool for this?

--

[Wildcard/Other]

[Any of the other things you'd like? She'd definitely also explore the lake and underground gardens mentioned in the Nadril Info stuff! Krile is itching to talk to or about Magda, what he's said and what he might stand for; she doesn't have much in the way of allegiance to either side, and she is well aware of the kind of leverage the Natha have over all these refugees...]

[flask]

[At the mention of Molly, Nott actually double takes. Molly's involved with this too?]

Doesn't he take issue with being called a demon?? You know, being a tiefling and all... But yes, he's an... ally.

[Not a friend. There's too little trust there for that.]

[maipokerface]

Maybe.

[Her tone is thoughtful and airy with that word. They're getting deep into brooding territory here.]

Or maybe that much doesn't really matter. If you're determined to get stuck, you'll do it no matter where you are. Or even who you let into that cage with you.

[Zuko and his quagmire of feelings and all those walls of his. They had been in the same cage, she was sure of that. And somehow she just hadn't been able to get him unstuck.
That had come after she had left his cage. And there's a part of her that sadly resents that fact.]

[fisherwife]

[Mipha braces her hands against the ice and pushes herself up and out of the water, shivering once before she takes a breath and gets a hold of herself. The water is plenty cooler than the water back home, but she was still pretty used to cold water and cold temperatures, so this was nothing she couldn't handle.

Just maybe not for as long as she could in other bodies of water.

Mipha has no clothing to wring out or anything, so she simply concentrates on wiping the thin layers of water off of her before it can freeze, and gives Cordelia a gentle smile.]

That's alright, you don't have to apologize. I've grown quite used to being the first and only of my kind people have met. [She bows her head in greeting] I am Princess Mipha, and my kind are called the Zora. Ignorance is what breeds fear so please feel free to ask what you like. I don't mind in the slightest.

But... May I have your name as well, first?