❪ 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

[1701]

[ Some of it's a logical thing: clearly used to human company, so somebody's pet, and thus surely in possession of a name. Most of it, though, is just that dumb, space-filling prattle that people do sometimes just to block out their own thoughts. Jim is loathe to admit to his loneliness even to himself - maybe it'll be better with Scotty here, and Kathryn who he's just met, feeling less alone in the midst of dozens of people from dozens of worlds. On the surface, humans, Earth, English, they all seem to be similar, but Jim's still felt like an outsider, unable to understand the fixation on (for lack of a better summary) capitalist pessimism.

Whatever, though, he's picking through parts, his attention on the wolf somewhere between idle acceptance of companionship and being wary of a sudden turn. She may still be a wild animal, despite the apparent friendliness. And even domesticated animals can be a danger.

And then: whatever's going on with that. It takes Jim a minute to wander over and look, and the expressions that cycle over his face are--

Interesting.

The silence he maintains while she's at work is a stark contrast to his previous ramblings. When she's done-- ]

I must sound like a real asshole.

[nevernoaction]

Scavenging and exploring. When not sampling liquor.

[He's just...going to let his body process what it's had for now, thank you.]

[winecasks]

No? Then you are more fortunate than I, for I certainly am, and freezing is not the death I wished for myself.

[ He does laugh at the beard comment, though. He could shave, he might shave, but he doesn’t feel like doing it. It takes a great deal more effort than he has right now. ]

All the better if it does! I will not need to look upon it any longer. It was once law in Russia that no man could wear a beard without paying a tax. Perhaps here, they will institute the opposite. Only those without beards must pay a tax.

[poolhall_killer]

The Sanctuary? I started there a little while ago, so I'm still learning who works there or in the area.

[He hadn't seen Mipha around but there has been a lot going on lately. He'll have to make her some tea once things start returning to normal around here.]

It's not too difficult, just a matter of not exerting myself when casting my stronger spells. The whole dragon thing didn't help, either.

[He'd much rather push that all the way to the back of his mind.]

It would be disappointing, considering how saturated this world is with magic. Instead of utilizing what they have, they offer really heavy blankets.

[poolhall_killer]

[He watches the AI go silent, all while Venom tries not to chuckle.]

And if the locals ask what caused such severe damage to their equipment, I will say I know nothing.

[Definitely didn't see someone pull an ancient weapon on it because it decided to have a smart mouth.]

[garbagepilot]

[She can't help thinking of Poe in this moment, the way that seems like something he would do. A joke along with a charming grin, playing off a dire situation as something a little more ordinary to keep everyone moving forward. It sounds just like what BB-8 had described, the few moments she'd spent with Poe getting to know him on her own.

Maybe that adds a little bit of the warmth in her smile as she shakes her head, but she does smile, faintly, as she holds her staff out to him.]

I'm Rey. You can lean on this if it'll help.

[nevernoaction]

[If the world unfreezes, he's going to start working there, he swears.]

It's helpful to know where it is anyway. Come on.

[nevernoaction]

Are they in stasis at the station?

[Because the people Ren knows are all stuck there right now. He hopes they're resting peacefully, anyway.]

[1701]

[ Doesn't everyone get their ass beat before the age of eleven? (No, but Jim's perception of childhood is somewhat warped, having come from an abusive home; he forgets to find it odd, now and again.) After, though - well, it's a wild time, this planet.

He laughs a little: ] Actually, we almost traded places once, and actively kept the doppelganger rumor on the downlow in case we ever needed to use it.

[ None of Cree or Voss's business, tbh. Jim's fully capable of getting into shenanigans all on his own. ]

[rosebyanyother]

[Peter would be miserable, thanks.

He ends up smiling a little at the film noir comment. Come to think of it, he does happen to know a very surly detective.]

Cheers.

[He picks up his own glass as well, taking a not terribly cautious sip.

The taste starts out pretty light. Floral, even. It doesn't stay that way for long, hints of spice - spice, not heat - starting to crop up after a few seconds. It doesn't end light either. The florals give way to spice which gives way to an earthy smokiness.

With a kick.]

[1701]

Mm.. [ A thoughtful noise, as he considers the taste and impact. He doesn't have to clear his throat, accustomed to straight whiskey and contraband space brandy, but he still tips his head and quirks his eyebrows. ]

That's like hard liquor sangria, almost. I don't dislike it.

[ Kinda fancy for his tastes, but not bad at all. He knocks back another mouthful, quicker this time, enjoying the smokey kick at the end. ]

[1701]

"I mean, everyone's up there in stasis," he says with a shrug. "It's just a matter of who wakes up."

Slightly terrifying things to contemplate: families, friends and lovers being robbed of lives together, waking up fifty years apart, or after someone's passed. Fun thoughts. Anyway,

"Yeah, Scotty. He's one of my best friends, and the chief engineer on my ship. We actually met on a frozen wasteland of a planet, so he's thrilled, of course." Spoiler: not thrilled. "He's a genius, and a total lunatic. He's great. From slightly north of your neighborhood."

Y..es, he's from Scotland and they call him Scotty, what of it.

[garbagepilot]

[Despite the coughing fit, Rey is still smiling faintly even as she scrubs at her mouth again to try to rub some of the feeling back into her lips. It's such a small thing to take wrong, and yet all it takes is a look down at Nott to see that's exactly what's happened.]

You're sorry you're a better drinker than I am? If anything it just means I need a little more practice.

[And she meets Nott's eyes, her own warm and yet managing to be firm about this.]</small. Don't apologize. You have no reason to, and I'm not upset. Okay?

[shikomizue]

[What a question.

Takasugi snickers, his laugh a high pitched thing that rings as cold as the storm around them.]

What do you mean?

How the Natha stole us all from our worlds? Or the group of radicals that abducted some refugees from Olympia and Wyver?

[The later he was directly involved in. On the side of the insurgents...]

[shikomizue]

[Trading bones doesn't sound entirely like a raw deal - though Takasugi would be more interested if the marrow offered was fresh, procured on a whim. He wonders how the skittish pup would feel about a deal like that.

It would be more fun.]

Hah. That's true. [Takasugi waves his hand, dismissive of his own idea. It was hardly serious.

To say he's glad Mikazuki has a friend like this would be too generous, but he acknowledges their friendship without hesitation.]

I'll send you to fetch some bones for me sometime.

So long as you don't mind if they're still attached to someone.

[1701]

[ They're very handsome ears, if Jim's opinion counts for anything. If he looks, it's with appreciation, though there's no staring. He's used to living alongside so many other races beyond humans that it becomes strange and a little claustrophobic without the diversity, though he's aware it's significantly more stressful for anyone non-human to be here. ]

Not by name, but you've spoken a little bit about your craft, and having students. [ One of which Jim's met. ]

[priorly]

Call it coincidence.

[Or call it a deliberate effort to swing the conversation this way. Whichever it may be, Prior's hands are raised in a play of surprise, and when Ianto asks the question he presses one to his chest.]

There can't be two like that. So you two live together? Well, don't some people just have all the luck. A girl could turn positively green.

[Every italic is fully audible, Prior's personality pitched up at least two octaves from its usual level both (hopefully) making it clear the comments are somewhat tongue-in-cheek and hiding the part where

Well. Some people do have all the luck. And others lose everything and are expected to keep on walking around like their insides aren't shot full of holes.

And yes yes - there are nuances. Prior knows how much John's lost in his life, through an unasked for blue streak of revelation. For all he knows, Ianto's lost just as much (even if he looks barely fifteen, for gods sakes, fifteen-year-olds can face losses too). But allow him the selfish thoughts, he's lost the two people he's been closest to for the last year within the space of a month and is feeling... lonely and scared. Cast adrift again.

But: distractions. Like the part where Ianto watches John do his hair. That has to be a positive sign?]

My roommate talks in his sleep. He does impressions. It's like sharing a college dorm room with a runner up from Star Search.

This is a disaster I'm crying

[kikoku]

[Listen, Law may be the walking personification of a Linkin Park song, but....

No, there's no defense for it. His tattoos are painfully edgy. Regardless, at the moment, he's agitated. He's had to make a lot of adjustments in the last week or so, and it's given him a lot of stress.]

You.... you're the one who started this. If you want to be left alone, go find somewhere else to be. Unless you really want to find out what my "small thing" is.
[Law... Law, phrasing.]

[quintessent]

I cannot think of any other way they got these photos.

[She fidgets with her stack of photos, expression somber as she cards through them once more. Then, her attention turns to the one he produces,]

What a strange building. [Her eyes flit to his face, trying to get a read on if it's a good memory, or bad.]

[shikomizue]

[Of course not.

Takasugi shakes his head.]

Pretty reckless to declare something like 'you'll fight it all'. [He doesn't hate that sort of bullheadedness.]

But without defeating the Storm, it'll all be meaningless. Do you think the Natha can protect this planet indefinitely?

[pebblestone]

[ Even more than before, he's left baffled as to this wolf's behavior, so unlike any other wild beast he's encountered before. It's moving...but away from him and closer to one side of the bed? As long it were trying to reposition itself better in preparation for a long nap.

Perhaps the wolves here in Nadril of a different kind, more like bears and ready to hibernate in the deep cold.

Well, he can't really blame it. He desperately wants a nice sleep as well. Just. Not next to a creature that might tear him in two.

But also.

He looks at the bed. Looks at the wolf. Looks back at the bed with the blanket still tucked in neatly. ]

I can't sleep like that. Unlike you, I possess no fur for warmth.

[ A fact that Panne had seen fit to rub in his nose many a time. ]

so eXTRA

[shikomizue]

[There's no satisfying crack, the man reacting more readily than Takasugi had anticipated. But, that follows the trend - this idiot does whatever would be most annoying. Blood dripping from his nostril is a consolation, at least.

Takasugi's made his point.]

You're right.

We're a pair. [That's why he'd done it - to force the man into helping him find some sort of solution, even though the injury is likely to clot sooner than a magically? induced deluge of blood.

One that's starting to make his eye look pretty damn red-

It itches. He notices - levies brief eye contact before turning away.] We'd better find a clinic.

[Together. If Henry doesn't accompany him, Takasugi will reach back to drag him along.]

[quintessent]

[When Amaterasu returns, she'll find an awakened Allura. She's kneeling, in the middle of twisting her long hair back into a bun on her head with practiced ease. The gold of her tiara glimmers, sitting in the snow next to her as she gets ready for the day. Her hands are up, affixing a pin when her wolf friend bounds in, spring in her step, and Allura laughs at the obvious call to play.]

Please be patient [She nearly loses her progress, a large white-lavender curl escaping from her hands before she returns it to it's place. A few seconds later, she's finished, and there's a moment that looks like quiet reverence as she returns the tiara to its place on her brow, but it disappears in an instant, under a smile as she leans forward on her knees to give her wolf friend a good rub down.]

I am glad you're still here, my friend. [Or worried that she'd only been a figment of her imagination, when she woke up alone. As Amaterasu tugs the bag over, Allura nods,]

I don't believe we were properly introduced before. I am Princess Allura. [She waits a moment, then her smile turns apologetic,] I am afraid I don't understand your language, and I'm not sure if you know mine. [It wouldn't be the first time she's attempted to talk to an animal that didn't understand,] But that doesn't mean we can't be friends.

[verflair]

Well, then. 'Tis not a happy tale, I am afraid, but the order was founded upon a singular oath: "To champion the weak, with heart and steel."

[ This is not a difficult story for him to tell -- he got his closure -- but in the interest of not ruining the mood, he opts to gloss over the finer details. ]

The invasion of my homeland brought with it the demise of the Duelists, thanks to a traitor in our ranks, with myself being the only survivor. I could not stay in Ala Mhigo, and so left to wander from place to place as I saw fit, living by the creed of my fellow red mages as best I could.

[natha]

The photos have the person whose picture is being taken in them - i.e. they are not from the character's perspective.