❪ 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

[dancerefresher]

[How could this happen to her...?]

Ye-yes, thank you.

But you don't have to dance right now, even without the dust.

I'm still pretty tired.

[shashka]

Maybe. Or maybe he was just smart enough not to trust them in the first place.

[ he can't help but be a pessimist at times. on one hand, it would be nice to uncover more about the Natha. on the other, he's still not sure that Magda has the information that they're looking for.

as 76 continues to talk, he nods. ]

In the end, it'll probably depend on just how important to you someone in those pods is. Would you be willing to go against the Natha, knowing that they might die. Would they understand? Would you forgive yourself?

[ Ocelot already knows his answers. ]

You're lucky you have Ana out here, at least.

[ from his past conversations with the woman, he knows they're close. if John were awake... well... he'd be perfectly fine with leaving the others to their fates. but since he's still in there... ]

[jesus_is_gundam]

That's not so unusual.

[Setsuna laughing would be highly strange, since he virtually never does, but he doesn't think of that as odd in other people.]

[beatupgrass]

Well, when you get settled and you figure out what you need and get a little silver on you, you just come to Wyver and ask around for Rocket, aka me. I'll set you up.

[Look, you need to get the newbies started on brand loyalty early.]

[beatupgrass]

[He looks equally incredulous. Because the answer seems obvious to him.] 'Cause it fucks you up, and people really like that in an alcoholic beverage. Why d'you think?

[jesus_is_gundam]

[He doesn't buy that as an excuse, but its clear enough that Link isn't going to continue this. He doesn't put his sword away, but he does back off, his stance loosening a little.]

Go.

[baguablade]

[ Cain stares at John, letting the seconds tick past, keeping his hold not quite iron-tight, but tight enough. Present, not willing to let John go. Not willing to let him pull away. But that's it. There's not going to be any more rough handling now that he's seen the proof, now that this is out in the air between them.

That's all he wanted, having it out in the open instead of a secret, swept under the rug. His mouth quirks, wry, not really a smile. ]

Going to tell me what actually happened, or do I have to put it together myself?

[baguablade]

[ Cain stares for a second, then abruptly snorts out a laugh. Yeah, that sounds like Zero. ]

You should have asked her what she meant. She probably would have loved explaining. [ His voice is dry, but he reaches out to pat the robot rabbit's head again, stroking one long fluffy ear. ] They are pretty cute, aren't they? People like to keep them as pets. They're actually pretty bossy, they have a whole hierarchy system.

[beatupgrass]

You're from one of those places, aren't you? Like Sansa and... God, I don't know. Bunches of people. [He heaves a sigh and then cracks open the casing a bit so she can see the battery he has on the inside.

Well, might as well learn these poor fools a lesson] All right, here. It's a chemical thing. You put two things together that don't get along and with the right combination of materials and the brains to not blow yourself up, you get a bomb. Got it?

[impavid]

An undead dragon happened.

[ Do you really need details? Because John is pretty sure you can imagine the details, and he's not a big fan of talking about them. Surely that's enough? ]

[beatupgrass]

I can't sign up with him, 'cause, unfortunately, the Natha do have one hold on me I can't break. [Much as it pains him to be in that kind of awkward holding pattern.] And a lot of people have got that same problem. He can't offer shit that would make any kind of difference, 'cause as much as I don't like the Celestials, they're not completely useless.

And he's an old dude in a frickin' cave somewhere. Unless he's got a ship somewhere, all he is is talk.

[illuminating]

[In contrast, although only for certain beings and entities, Amaterasu has an unending wealth of patience. And it's exercised presently, while she stands watch over Red being thoughtful enough to collect these physical forms of her memory. A guard, firmly, and slowly rounding the site to keep someone else from crushing them under their shoe.

Once she has them in hand, wolf whimpers faintly, and touches the cold of her nose to knuckles, lifts on claws like tiptoes, as if trying to get a better look at them. Mother fretting over newborns is the behavior, though she would never mistake them for such. This is merely something she could never foresee happening. She doesn't know what Red wants to do now, however, and she's a little anxious. Where will they take them? What then? Her tongue laps against side of hand and thumb, a quiet gesture of thankfulness, her ears remain tucked, she's a mix of sighs and whines.]

(;o; jay, i'm so sorry this wasn't a super, duper lengthy one! i'm sure one's bound to crop up in the near future. i never... plan for how long they're going to be, they just come out sdlfjlkjf)

Just two dudes who are unfittingly rude given their professions.

[kikoku]

[Law visibly startles, clearly not having realized he'd be overheard, or possibly even that there was another person in the immediate vicinity. He turns his head with great reluctance, only to be as dismissive as possible.]

Nothing, mind your own business.
[He pauses a moment, sizing the other man up, the thought of shambles-ing himself away before remembering the issue he's refusing to speak of that would make such avoidance tactics difficult.]

Can't you tell when someone's talking to themself?
[Wait, that makes him sound like a lunatic, doesn't it. Goddamnit, this is why he doesn't like talking to people.]
-Not talking to you, anyway.

[beatupgrass]

[That's why you drink it slowly.]

They like it when people work around here, well this is me working. I get everyone wasted after they spend all day... doing whatever it is people do around here.

[beatupgrass]

Only thirty, huh. [Rocket takes his own shot glass and takes an idle sip of the concoction. Ah, tastes like horrible hangover.] That's so noble of you to not slaughter a bunch of people in your way. Now if it were me... I probably would've messed 'em up a little.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto nods in response to the question, unable to disguise his surprise at the revelation. She had been pretty business-like, given off a sense of authority, but she'd only introduced herself to him as Kathryn, that's all.

"What a small world this place is, in the end," he muses. He flashes Jim another smile, having heard his rants and he can only imagine how pleased he must be to have the company. "And you said your engineer -- is this a friend of yours?" It's an awfully personal way to speak of someone otherwise.

I'm sure this will end splendidly.

[smithandwesson]

Good save there idiot. Would have been more believable if you didn't already admit that you were talking to yourself.

[Oof. Yep. That certainly rubbed him the wrong way. The blonde monk was now directly glaring at Law, daggers in his eyes as his posture stiffened up.

Was this asshole actually crazy? He better keeps guarded in case this lunatic tried to make a grab for his things.]

Why the hell are you talking so damn much to yourself while other people are trying to get some work done anyway? You're the only one being a real nuisance here.

[Huff.]

[baguablade]

Prince Chrom, huh...

[ An interesting bit of knowledge to tuck away. Yet another of the mysterious sleeping Chrom's shepherds. But it makes Cain trust her a bit more easily, to know that she must be one of Frederick's comrades, and the smile he gives her is wide and bright and easy as he returns the dip of her head with a nod of his own. ]

I'm Cain of Idelva, temporarily lost to the Storm. A pleasure to meet you, Miss Cordelia. And now, I hope, soon to be a heretofore unknown prodigy robot programmer.

[ He gives her a cheeky wink with those last words. ]

[beatupgrass]

That's the thing, ain't it? [Rocket shifts from one foot to the other, teeth bared like a cornered animal. It's all frustrating. He's spent a year on this rock and he's no closer to proving there's anything else.]

This planet is gonna run out of room one day. Are they even preparing for that or they hoping we drive the natives into extinction on complete accident... which would be pretty screwed up. And yet... Kinda inevitable.

[beatupgrass]

Oh, man... Wyver had this thing where people came around and showed off all this stuff they did- art, inventions, food... whatever. And then he picked a winner. I don't exactly remember what the winner got 'cause I was extremely bitter about losing, but it was probably awesome.

[And so is winning. Because Rocket loves being The Best. He pauses to scratch under his chin.]

Not sure if he's gonna be feelin' up to it this year since his son went evil and got eaten by a dragon, which is pretty annoying.

[enfeeble]

[ . . .

His heart is so soft at her efforts, but he just... can't.

Instead, he just wheezes a laugh, giving her a proud smile. ]

You're as clever as you are kind, aren't you? [ He shakes his head, resting a hand on her shoulder where he leans for a moment. ] I appreciate your concern, but I can walk fine on my own. It will take more than a little blood to slow me down.

[ Even while the blood is spurting from his own body. ]

[kikoku]

[Law nods, vaguely. As much as what the Natha offered in exchange for their alleigiance could just as easily become "hostages" or some other thing to hold over their heads, if they decided to change loyalties. His attention is grabbed by the word "ship," though.]

And what would you be able to accomplish exactly if he had a ship for you to use?
[Unless... that was somehow all this small racoon man wanted out of the Natha. Which, law doesn't pretend to know the priorities of other people, but that doesn't seem like a huge motivation, since this planet seems pretty lousy with spaceships by his estimation.]

[enfeeble]

"Intense." [ All Might huffs a laugh at his wording. ] Do you work in medicine?

[ He doubts it. ]

[shashka]

So it would seem...

[ he hears the appliance start to say something else, but pulls out one of his revolvers. ]

Not another word.

[ he really isn't afraid to use it. and if the AI gets any ideas... ]

[baguablade]

Yes. [ A little deadpan. He's being very patient here. ] An undead dragon. And last time I saw you fighting that dragon, you were fine and not burnt to a crisp.

[ So yes. He needs details. Like how John went and got himself turned into a toasty flambe human marshmallow. ]