❪ 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

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Loras Tyrell // Game of Thrones

[triplerose]

[i. A FROZEN LAND / A WARM WELCOME]

[ Loras does not do cold. The coldest he's experienced in his life had been Olympia, and there had been a distinct reason why he'd chosen to settle in Wyver. This is unlike anything he has ever experienced or imagined - and he'd imagined the North to be bad. This, to him, is Beyond The Wall bad.

He finds the journey unforgiving. He doesn't think much of the time passing, or of the people around him. He keeps moving forward because what else can he do beyond stopping? It takes him a while to realize, then, that he's steered off course from the main group. The panic sets in for a good while before the lights come into view through snow.

By the time Loras stumbles in through the gates of Nadril, he wants nothing more than to find a place to sleep, and to make sure his friends arrived, and to warm up. ]


[ii. CENTRAL]

[ Loras is not immediately ready to explore. He's hesitant to leave his lodgings, already weary of the cold. But he tells himself he should try and do something, so he bundles up, and he goes for a walk. His steps lead him to the station the locals call Central, and his curiosity gets the better of him.

He's glad for it, too, when he comes across the gardens inside. The familiarity of it is calming and it's refreshing to see some sort of life in this otherwise frozen wasteland.

He's not even sure how much time has passed since he got there. He just knows that he's reluctant to leave. ]


[iii. WILDCARD]

Choose your own adventure, or get at me at fritzwinky.

[mollymocked]

[Molly blows that errant stand of purple hair out of his face.] I have a theory that you'll just stun it into silence, because it won't know where to start.

[And, with that, he just saunters away from the mirror and flops down on the floor with his back against the bed right beside Nott and her new rat.] But for the record, I would have built you up after if it had insulted you. I've never said a word against your personal style.

[Mostly because he has a theory about that. He and Caleb are interesting diametric opposites. He makes himself flashy so he'll be seen and Caleb makes himself look like a beggar so he isn't seen at all. As far as cons go, it's not hard to figure out.]

for Renly Baratheon

[triplerose]

To say that the cold has brought down Loras' mood would be an understatement. It's a shock to the system, and he's still upset that they couldn't return to their actual homes in Wyver or Olympia. But the cold is miserable and he suddenly understands why everyone from the North is so surly all the time.

Luckily, their room, though small, is warm and has what they need. And they're here together. That almost makes it worth while.

Almost.

Wrapped in a blanket, Loras watches Renly from where he's perched on the bed.

"I never thought I'd miss King's Landing until we came to this awful place."

[flask]

[...That is true, Molly has never insulted Caleb, actually. Well, not for his looks. At least not within Nott's earshot.

Nott has returned to fiddling with the rat. It'd be ideal if she could get it to steal for her. Or spy on people. These are both very useful things. Not that she couldn't just use Mage Hand to steal from a distance, but you know, options are good.]

Maybe it'll say something nice to him. Like, "your clothes look very functional." Maybe it just doesn't like gaudy people.

Goro Akechi | Persona 5

[fabrications]

( a | frozen land )
[ Akechi supposes it's not exactly a surprise that tinkering around with the simulators wasn't quite enough to prepare him for marching through a literal blizzard, but it certainly is annoying. Even with the Natha-supplied cold weather gear he feels like he's about to freeze solid, and keeping his head down and stubbornly pressing forward only barely manages to make the feeling tolerable.

There's not much to do as he walks but think, but that's hardly a benefit when he feels like he's already thought himself to death so far. No matter who else he might encounter from home, Akechi knows he's alone here. And let there be no mistakes: Akechi is not an altruistic person. That said, he's not an idiot either. He needs allies, and fast.

So when someone near him fumbles and goes down, Akechi doesn't hesitate - even though the nature of the winter clothes make it hard to tell whoever this person is at a glance. Either way, he thrusts a hand out to help them up, shouting to be heard over the storm. ]

Here, come on! We can't risk falling behind in this.

( b | a warm welcome (dorms) )
[ Akechi's already had a blanket and a cider, but what he really needs right now is a shower and a nap. So, to the sleeping quarters he goes. He's really hoping he'll be able to find one that's unoccupied and strongly suspecting he won't be able to. Still, he's at least going to try.

So when he sees a dorm with an open door, he strides towards it and knocks on the door frame, calling out a cheery (if tired): ] Pardon the intrusion.

[ Please be empty, little dorm room. That's all he's asking for. ]

( c | scavenger hunt )
[ Yeah, they should be working with a partner, but (still) Akechi isn't used to having one of those. So he's gone into the other wreck alone, though fortunately he doesn't have to go far before he finds what he's looking for. One particular hole in the hull opens up to a six foot drop directly into the ship's old mecha bay. He can't see much with the lamp he brought with him, but what he does see is enough to make him stop and simply stare in awe.

Fortunately, he's not too distracted. A moment later he hears a sound behind him and turns in time to see the silhouette of a person in the hole he just entered through. Instinct tells him to ignore them and slink off, but that persistent need for connections in this new place keeps him from just taking off. Instead... ]

Careful! You'll have to jump down.

Slaine Troyard | Aldnoah.Zero

[terrantrash]

SPACE ODDITY

_{[With no direction or much thought of what to do other than explore, Slaine's feet have taken him in and out of various wings of the Central craft. Most things are par for the course, but it's the sudden discovery of a room filled with various space artifacts that has him pausing and wanting to give it a closer look. For the first time since his father's death, even before the Terran had found himself crash-landed on the surface of Mars, Slaine's feels a sudden rush of excitement at the sight of the relics before him. Never in a million years did he ever think he'd get to see bits and pieces of technology from the original Apollo missions...and here they were, the rusted craft from the Apollo 11 mission just sitting out on display.]}

How...?

<sub>[Perhaps a better question may be why. Why would something like this be here, in a re purposed, downed spacecraft on some god forsaken planet? A few additional glances have him noticing not far off what looks to be like the remnants of the Hubble telescope. Just how many pieces of old Earth space tech did they have down here?

He looks a bit like a kid in a candy shop, gingerly examining first the lunar module only to make his way over to the school bus sized telescope. If one didn't know what it was, they might mistake it for a complex, shiny tube covered with foil...but Slaine knows better. These are two things he could identify from a mile away.]</sub>

I can't believe these are here...wow...

INFLUENZA

<sub>[Slaine, unfortunately, is more than just cold - he's caught one.

The telltale signs are clear - a runny nose and a warm forehead. There's a dull pain in his ears as well, but none of this seems to deter him from going out and taking a walk around the main hub that seems to make up Nadril. The more he walks though the more he realizes what a bad mistake he's made. His legs feel weak, stomach woozy. He's definitely come down with something...why now, of all times?]</sub>

Um, excuse me...you didn't happen to see a pharmacy nearby at all, have you?

_{[He hates to be a bother but someone's got to know whether or not there's one around. From the looks of it Slaine's burning up. Not all that red on his face is just from the chill of the wintry air. Help him out before he passes out?]}

WILDCARD

_{[Want to throw a snowball into Slaine's face? Want to harass him with robot animals? I'm up for anything! Just hit me up or I can put up a starter for us I'm easy! c:]}

Riku | Kingdom Hearts | ota

[dreamprotector]

[ A – A Night On The Bare Mountain ]

[It's not the first time Riku's seen snow – he's climbed the summit of the Land of Dragons, braved the Snowgleam Wood to find the Sound Idea for Mickey, but in spite of those new memories he can't help but linger on his experiences here, his captivity on the mountain, the torture, the freezing cold that had–

Riku shakes his head as he takes another step into the storm and resists the urge to rub at his arms. Even though he's wearing the Natha-issued winter apparel, the cold still feels like seeped into his very bones. He moves his cold fingers in his gloves and curls his toes in his boots; he really can do without frostbite after all.

His eyes narrow when he spots one of the faint green lights within the whiteness of the land before them.]

Well, at least we are still on the right track.

[He almost immediately regrets muttering even that much, the air so cold that he can feel his teeth aching on contact. This time he doesn't resist the urge to rub his arms as he strides further forward. There is no way going back after all.]


[ B – Access The Grid ]

[After arriving in Nadril, Riku is glad to accept the welcome that the first refugees are providing – the cider burns in his veins as he enters Central, a welcome warm buzz after the time spent braving the storm protecting the city. Much as he would like to meet Magda now already, it's better to make himself familiar with the grounds first, he figures.

He can't help but frown at some data he comes across as he browses the research the Nadril have compiled from other worlds – some of it is very familiar from things he's read in the library of Hollow Bastion, fragments of research papers that Ansem the Wise and then-Xehanort had compiled on the Heartless, a stray thought transmitting for all to hear as he continues to look for familiar writings that go mostly beyond his own understanding.]

They better not be thinking of building up that damn factory here.

[They are already facing enough trouble on El Nysa without adding the Heartless to the mix.

Another item he comes across makes him grin though, a simple tube that is barely a foot long. Even if he had been forced to ride the Light Cycle for his life, Riku still remembers the rush of actually driving.]

To think they'd have something like this around… I wonder if there's a racing track anywhere on this ship.

[He'd sure like to take the Light Cycle on a spin without anyone trying to kill him for a change.]


[ C – Distant From You ]

[Riku can't help but throw up his barrier when the strange insect-winged robot suddenly comes up to him, and triggers the flash of its camera – battle reflexes are too ingrained into him, for him not to react this way when not given a warning. He looks faintly sheepish when the barrier falls away a second later because there was no need for it, then tilts his head, brows furrowing slightly when he receives the pictures from the bot.

Anyone leaning close will find one of them showing three teenagers – two boys and a girl, the boys playing some kind of complicated ball game in the water, while the girl is cheering them on – while the others show the scenery of a sandy island, a tree with star-shaped fruit against the sunset, and a town built into the mountain.

Riku's head bows slightly, as a faint smile pushes onto his lips at the pictures. Even though it hasn't been that long to him since he's been home, at least not given the recent memories he's been given by the Natha… he misses Tidus, Wakka and Selphie (even if not quite as much as he misses Kairi right now).

He misses home.

Later, when the pictures crumble into dust, he doesn't mind too much. They have already seared into his mind after all.]


[ D – Sacred Distance ]

[The encounter with Magda is… interesting, to say the least, at least in Riku's book. It certainly is food for a great deal of thought, anyway. (Can they really trust the Natha, who do not share much about themselves or the Storm, who so far seem not to have taken any action to combat it properly?)

Of course, given Magda's involvement with Raysc it's debatable just how trustworthy he is either. Time will tell soon enough, Riku figures as he makes his way into the junk heap of the Natha ship. On his shoulder, Highwind the Dream Eater Bat, trills lowly as they enter what appears to once have been the mess hall and Riku can't help but frown faintly as he makes way past the kitchens towards the simulation stations.]

I wish they had been more precise on what kind of spare parts they need.

[For all that he can use computers and technology of most levels – better than Sora anyway – he has no idea what is actually needed to repair the station or lift Ysverai's curse for that matter. And whether he'll deliver to the Natha or to Magda… well, he still has some time to make his mind up about that too, doesn't he?]


[ E – The Wildcard Finalist ]

[ooc: Need another prompt? Sure, just shoot me a line via PM or plurk (iceyly) and we can figure something out! :3]

Maximus Boltagon // Inhumans (MCU)

[ininhuman]

[i. LODGINGS]

[ No. This won't do. Cabin Fever had set in hard for Maximus on Thesa, the station too reminiscent of the bunker beneath Attilan. It had him equal parts reclusive and suspicious, and when he'd moved around the station, it was with purpose and with a constant check over his shoulder.

He'd hoped that getting off the damn thing would fix it.

Instead, he finds himself somewhere even smaller. He paces the room restlessly, even if Theon is there, and when the AI starts to get on his nerves, Maximus starts to look for panels to take apart in an attempt to rewire Ralf or shut him up. ]

[ii. PHOTOGRAPHS]

[ The listlessness doesn't seem to be leaving Maximus any time soon. He takes to wandering Nadril, bundled against the chill but not minding it as much as others. He'd spent a lot of time building up his life in Olympia. He'd come there at a good time, able to assimilate into the community easily. Here, he knows it will take time again. That's fine. Maximus is used to putting in time and never seeing the desired results.

He hardly notices the bots as he walks. He assumes they're nothing more than simply robots. Things designed for an easier life. The whirl of flashing takes him by surprise - though not as much as the photos do.

Attilan. Unmistakable in its pristine condition. The palace, the Terregenesis chambers. The pictures crumple as he balls his hand into a fist around them. ]


[iii. WILDCARD]

Choose your own adventure or hit me up at fritzwinky.

ii

[reek]

[ Theon is just as unnerved by the AI. If Maximus can find a way to get rid of it, he’ll be grateful. Until then, he’s taken to roaming the halls, just as restless as he ever was in Winterfell.

The shouting from an open door sparks a memory, almost long forgotten. It reminds him of when he first arrived. He and Robb had argued incessantly for days, disturbing neighbors and the network. He regrets it now, but he supposes it’s just another thing on top of an ever-growing pile.

He follows the voice and watches for a moment, a silently and pale ghost in the doorway. ]

Your voice travels. I can hear you down the corridor.

dutch | killjoys

[motivation]

one » A FROZEN LAND

( dutch doesn't like the cold. she's never liked the cold, but now it brings back memories she'd rather forget — of the extremists getting the drop on her, of hypothermia and anger and the vision of johnny dying, of being naked in the cold, being doused in freezing water, of no longer being able to breath.

dutch doesn't like the cold, but she's damn well going to continue moving, angry determination in the set of her shoulder and her jaw. anger is good fuel; always has been, for her. ) Hells ( she might be heard muttering, now and again during the trek.

in the evenings, when it grows too dark to continue through the storm, she sits a little too close by whatever fire anyone might have managed to light in this godforsaken weather, still buried deep in furs.

someone offering her a drink or to warm her up might just get her out of this funk, but until such time, she'll just stare into the flames. )

two » PAWS ABOUT TOWN

( she's been thinking it a lot, really, between the wristlets and the earrings, the general level of technology here, but when she sees the small-sized robotic pets in paws about town, she thinks it out loud.

as in, the earring sends the thought - out loud - to all those in the vicinity: ) Johnny'd cream his pants if he saw all this.

( once she notices anyone looking at her, she just gives a shrug and a smirk. it's true. her best friend would cream his pants. he has a boner for all this stuff. she loves him anyway. )

three » FROSTY TAP CANTINA

( dutch doesn't really care for the sport, but she cares about having an alcoholic drink in front of her and a decent way to spend an evening that isn't thinking about the cold or about any of the million other things she could be thinking about and really rather wouldn't.

so of course, she's found the cantina and of course, she's betting.

if she wins a wager, her dares run from the harmless ("down that drink in one go") to the same kind of suggestive the natives seem to enjoy —and she has a good eye for who might be attracted to whom, so she might just dare you not to kiss whoever you find the most attractive but who she thinks you're into. 9 out of 10 times, she's probably right.

that, or she might challenge someone to a spar right there in the cantina. gets the blood moving, after all.

if she loses a wager, she'll do whatever is asked of her unless it's completely unreasonable and involves going out in the cold, so the odds aren't too bad that you have one (1) woman clad in leather walk toward you, the sway of her hips and the gleam in her eyes betraying her intention before she leans in, clasping your face in both hands and kissing you square on the mouth. lingering a little, possibly. )

one » WILDCARD

( anything you'd rather do? hit me up @ abiosis for a personalised starter or just write your own, i'm good with it all )

i

[reek]

[ Theon wanders to escape the turmoil of his own mind. The more he does, the more he seems to be able to hold Reek at bay. It helps to picture everything as Winterfell, covered in a blanket of snow. It helps to think of home, something he couldn’t do quite so easily in Olympia, no matter how well he had settled in.

He returns to the room after his fishing expedition, as quiet as ever but looking more at ease than he has in a long time. He doesn’t think about Reek, he doesn’t think about Ramsay. His biggest concern is, in fact, Maximus. He doesn't seem to be doing well.

Theon doesn’t speak for a moment. He simply sits on his bed and watches as Max searches the room for something. Theon has learned not to ask. Maximus doesn’t ask him about his episodes, and he prefers it that way. ]

Have you eaten?

[ He sounds like Claire. It’s ridiculous, but he brought in a surprisingly good haul for someone who hasn't fished in years, and someone needs to eat it. ]

thomas nightingale | rivers of london

[ettersberg]

( i. ) a frozen land

( this isn't the first time thomas nightingale has been out in weather like this. he's taken the gear offered and is making good use of it and even now, trekking across the land, his movements are sure and mostly easy, his efficiency understated and quiet but undeniably there. he's making good progress, but he'll stop now and again to orient himself or to help someone who seems to be struggling along by offering a hand. even with the gloves on, there seems to be a warmth emanating from him that might explain why he isn't suffering the cold quite as much as everyone else.

magic space heater? well, he wouldn't put it in those terms but essentially, yes.

it reminds him of a number of things, this, not least of all germany during the war. that hadn't been quite as bad as this, but they'd all been exhausted enough at the time that it had felt even worse. at least this time, there isn't a price out on his head? and still, despite those thoughts, he'll offer only a crisp: ) All right?

( and, a beat later, ) I've some tea, if you'd like it. ( magically, it's still warm. )

( ii. ) wildcard

( just the one open starter, but feel free to find nightingale also in the cantina, drinking beer and watching the sport. if anyone tries to get him involved in a wager, he'll probably say something terribly proper like "i'd prefer not to".

also!! I'm happy to write personalised starters for anyone, old and new cr alike. wanna share an igloo with him? accidentally get some of his thoughts in your ear? lmk )

[diamondize]

A while back, Mipha found a list of city names: "Olympia, Wyver, Stroln, Dranbu, and Nadril, with a red line marking out Nadril." If Mipha asks around town or Magda himself about it, would they tell her anything useful?

montgomery scott. star trek aos.

[kludging]

a frozen land

[ well, it's not delta vega.

that thought runs through scotty's mind more than once but it's little comfort when you're on the move in a frozen, unforgiving environment. he's not alone here - was never alone on delta vega either, but things with keenser still got lonely, just the two of them. and now keenser is in a tube. here he sticks by jim a lot, making sure to not lose track of him for very long at a time. he's not always a part of away teams and this is a lot: still, he manages.

he complains a lot, but he manages.

if you're lost, maybe he happens upon you. hell, maybe he got separated and is in the middle of swearing at one of the guiding lights that's bringing him back to the main way. maybe you just pass each other on the trail. no matter what the situation, he's bundled up and grumpy. ]

a warm welcome (iii)

[ now this? this is scotty's jam. he's holed himself away in the research facility, looking though tech samples and picking at them thoroughly. he wants to know this place like the back of his hand and even though that's not going to happen any time soon he's going to give it the old academy try.

if he's allowed he'll pick apart the more interesting items up for research, fiddling with them and putting them back together. if he's not allowed he's still going to examine them as closely as possible, working out some kinks and taking stock of what kinds of tech come from which place.

sitting at a research station he's taken interest in a bit of tech from a world not entirely unlike his own and turns the small sphere over in his hands, thoughtful with his brows furrowed. ] Aye, you're a beauty, but what do you do?

recreation in nadril (ii.a)

[ you wanna fuckin go? this is scotty's comfort zone; drinking in a bar and being allowed to make his own zany alcohol experiments. he's been at it a while, taking helpful hints from the bartender every so often to help him utilize the unfamiliar tools and ingredients better. he's not smashed by any means but he is pleasantly buzzed as he carefully concocts a drink: a deep purple, glittering in the low light, and he pauses to eye it a moment before picking it up and offering it out. to you? sure. ]

Here, try this.

[ just... fuckin' go for it, i guess. he looks trustworthy, right? ]

the mission (ii)

[ while he thankfully doesn't often (anymore) have to go scrapping, scotty knows what he's doing. he's good and he's quick, picking through parts and tucking them away with a kind of ruthless efficiency. he's not here alone - he's not stupid - but perhaps he's currently on his own in his exploration, doing his best to make sure he doesn't miss anything useful.

who is he picking for? himself, probably. he's currently not really trusting anyone involved with this whole debacle, so really that's what you get: a dude picking parts so he can work out what they do and build something useful. he's not happy to be trudging around in the snow when it encroaches on the wreck, and he seems to be using a highly-specialized tool that's not of natha origin as he goes through the motions. ]

Hell, poor thing's long past a deft touch.

[ he thinks about the enterprise, and then he doesn't. ]

wildcard

[ you have your own idea? come at me! i'll match any style you choose. :] ]

iii

[flask]

[Nott is hiding behind her mask and hood, and could easily be mistaken for being far too young to be here at three foot even, but when this human man completely patronizes her about holding her liquor not two seconds after she's decided to team up with him for this drink contest... well, now she feels like she needs to show him up along with any would-be competitors.]

They don't call me the Bottomless Pit for no reason.

[SHE HAS A DRINKING NAME, GET ON HER LEVEL.]

thor | mcu

[sparke]

01 🌩 A FROZEN LAND

( thor is less bothered by the cold than others, thanks to his asgardian physiology and not easily exhausted, but the trek through the unforgiving white landscape and through the storm is taxing in different ways for him. too much time to think, too much time to mourn all the losses he's suffered. too much time to blame himself for the death of his people.

despite that weight on his shoulders, or precisely because of it, he'll do his very best to be cheerful whenever they break for camp.

he might ( a. ) offer to start a fire, and if his offer is accepted, snap his fingers to make sparks appear between them. the snapping isn't necessary, he's just doing it for effect. and then, from his fingers the spark will hit whatever wood there is like lightning. exactly like lightning. for a moment, thor's remaining eye sparks light-blue as well, then it's back to normal and he's grinning.

or he might (b. ) offer to keep you warm, an easy grin curling his lips that makes him look utterly harmless despite his size and the missing eye, arms spread wide open. )

02 🌩 PARADISE NADRIL CITY

( thor is not a small man by any stretch of the imagination and he isn't always a careful man, either. today, that means he very nearly stepped on one of the small robotic pets that abound in nadril city and only when he heard the first crunch under his boot did he even realise it and quickly step back so as to avoid crushing it.

now, he's got the robotic pet handling from two fingers, carefully inspecting it. it's a little dented, but it's still moving. )

Is this yours? ( thor asks —and before even getting a reply, continues, tone somewhat apologetic: ) It's very small.

03 🌩 THE CANTINA

( thor is in his element —or he would have been, had he been here years ago. before his banishment to midgard, before learning that there is more to life than fighting and the glory of victory. he's a little more subdued now, but even so, there's still the largest mug of the local equivalent of ale the bartender could find in front of him, half-empty already, and he's watching the sport, cheering along even though he's not quite sure he's figured out the rules yet.

and if someone asks him for a wager, well. he's not going to refuse that offer. win or lose, he'll propose some dare or good-naturedly do what he's been tasked to do, from buying someone who catches his eye a drink to going out into the cold.

now and again, amidst the merriment of it all, he'll take a quiet moment to just sip his drink, but the moment someone's eyes land on him again, he is back to grinning, joining the fray. and at the end of the night, if anyone needs help back to their igloo, thor is there to steady them —or, if need be, to sling them over his shoulder and carry them back. )

04 🌩 WILDCARD

( hmu for anything!! spars! snowball fights!! )

Iskandar | Fate/ | OTA

[conqueredhearts]

I. Images of home

[There is one man who needs no encouragement to show off the pictures. Already he is going up to the very first person that he sees with a grin on his face. For most this will mean that a friendly giant has suddenly walked right on over to them.]

My friend! Have you seen these magical photos? They are a wonder! Look! This is Japan where I last was!

[Seriously, guys. He's going to be showing everyone. Whether there's interest or not.]


II. Drinking contests

[Of course this is a man who is more than willing to drink his weight in alcohol. Iskandar has always believed in doing things to excess and that includes alcohol consumption. Which means that he's sure to be found here laughing as he drinks people under the table. To be fair, he has said repeatedly that getting him drunk is an effort they should avoid.

But there he is. When he sees someone approaching he gives a wide grin and a wave.]

You there! Would you like to build drinks with me? I have heard that if we win the drinks will be free for the night!


III. Scavenging

[This probably isn't his strongest area but Iskandar's come out to help with digging through this wreckage for useful things. It helps that he's so strong because he can lift things or break into rooms that might have been shut otherwise. A very useful partner to have on this sort of thing even if he doesn't recognize what could be helpful to bring back in this situation. He's still learning about the technology here, after all.

So here he is holding up a heavy piece of something for his partner as he looks to see what they're looking at.]

Do you think that would be good?

[You'll have to tell him. He's got no clue.]


Wildcard

[Got other ideas? Feel free to create your own prompt! I'll follow along no problem!]

[hedonistic]

hello! a few questions:

1) if someone asks the people of nadril or magda himself about what caused their falling out with the natha, would they be given any details?

2) will characters be able to teleport back and forth from thesa station once a day like they can in olympia/wyver? if they can, will they need to cross the snowstorm every time they return from thesa?

3) are characters allowed to buy the robotic pets instead of just doing a trial run with them? if so, would that be something that could cost ACP or could we handwave them having enough silver to do it?

Caleb Widogast | Critical Role (ota)

[breadmuffs]

frozen land
[They can't keep going for three days straight, especially not in weather like this. Camps have to be made, they have to sleep. Cold and miserable as it is. But then again, Caleb has been cold and miserable before, many times. This sort of misery, he just hunkers down against. Anyway. It doesn't matter. He does his little spell to ward his little group - silver wire around the space where he, Nott, and Molly sleep - and then looks around. They've got their own little fire going, but once again (like in the simulation, only more dire this time) he sees someone having trouble with a precarious fire-making attempt.

He walks over, his hand...blackening and blooming fire as he goes. Once he makes it over to the other camp, he clears his throat.]

I can help you with that, if you stand back a bit.

[He can do this as much as he needs to, since it's such a minor spell. And he's being...useful. That's important.]

paws about town
[Caleb has....very seriously been missing his cat. Things have gotten a little better now that he has his human (well, fine, that's not the correct word for what they are but they're not animals anyway) companions with him. Still. He's more comfortable with Frumpkin than any of them. Even Nott.

Walking past a shop that seems to sell...clockwork animals? (No, not clockwork. But like clockwork.) Caleb pauses to look them over. In particular, his eyes catch on what seems to be a range of very small cats. But they're wrong. Not the same. His nose wrinkles slightly, and he can be heard asking himself:]

What's the point of them?

[Screw that, he wants real cats. Well. He wants one cat in particular, but if he can't have that cat, then he wants the next best thing. This isn't the next best thing.]

the mission, II
[Standing just inside the husk of the old spaceship in the dim light, Caleb mutters under his breath a bit, moves his hands in a precise way, and suddenly 4 dim baubles of light pop into existence around him. Then he looks at the person closest to him - there are a few here, looking around, wanting to find out what they can.]

You know, I don't really know what we are looking for. But if you do, I can help you.

[Normally he wouldn't be here in a place like this alone. Normally, he'd have a goblin shadow (maybe even a tiefling shadow, although the gods only knew where Molly had wandered off to, he's been very excited about all of this) but Caleb has this vague inkling that...he needs to meet new people. Not because he wants to. Meeting new people is always a gamble and one he feels like he loses more than he wins. But because he thinks the Natha want him to.

Part of that is also why he's here. The Natha want things, he wants them to trust him and give him access to Find Familiar again. But also he might be here because Magda also wants parts. Caleb isn't crossing out any possible avenues just yet.

But anyway, the task at hand and the person beside him.]

I might be able to clear the way if things are blocked, too.

[Please protect him though, he's squishy.]

Diamond | houseki no kuni

[diamondize]

[Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway]

[You'd think that someone that normally wears short sleeves and booty shorts would have the common sense to change into something warmer for this, you know? But Diamond walks along, completely immune to the cold.

They shield their eyes and look up to the sky, then around with a little sigh.] It's been a long time since I've seen so much snow!

[But they seem rather pleased about it all regardless. If you fall in the snow or something, you might find the extremely cold hands of Diamond lifting you up lie you weigh next to nothing and setting you upright again, or helping you to brush off snow.] Careful! This kind of weather can be bad for you, right?

[Cold 2.0]

[Alright, so the snow storm bothered them a little bit. Not because of the cold, but because the falling snow blocks out the sunlight.

Even when it hits about mid-day, Diamond moves a bit more sluggishly, looking a little unfocused and sleepy as they sort of stumble along. They stifle yawns multiple times and whenever everyone stops for a rest or something, Dia can usually be found dozing off a little near-by.] When is the sun going to come out...?

[Warm Welcome 1.0]

Oh, I don't-- [Diamond tries to protest a couple times as things are forced into their arms, but to no avail. They simply give them blankets, cider, and everything else before moving on, leaving Dia standing there with a loo of wry amusement.

With a light sigh, they turn to find someone--anyone!--and present them with their treasure-- even if the other person already has their own]

Hello! Would you like these?

[Warm Welcome 2.0]

[Diamond's just poking their heads in to various rooms, trying to find some place to nap-- just a quick one, really! If the room is occupied, they offer a friendly little smile and a wave]

I don't suppose you're looking for a roommate, are you? I just wanted a couple hours to rest and relax... Everything's been really fun lately, huh? Haha!

[For a given value of 'fun,' sure.]

[Warm Welcome 4.0]

[Diamond's eye are all a-light with excitement (or maybe it's just the pure-diamond irises, who knows) as they leaf through the photographs. A couple do make their expression dim and their expression grow a bit strained, but in general they seem pretty pleased with them.]

Look! Isn't it wonderful? [Which means EVERYONE should see about them. Diamond eagerly waves the pictures around. Some eem to show a group of beautiful, sparkly people running about. Some have Diamond fighting side-by-side with another beautiful, if fierce-looking person (girl?). Though in at least one photo, Diamond and this person seem to be fighting... Another shows strangely beautiful, ethereal beings. And another a man who appears to be a buddhist monk holding up another pretty person (girl??).] They're from home!

Oh, you should try too! [Diamond immediately begins ushering them towards the bots] I want to see what your pictures will be!

Paws about Town

[dreamprotector]

[Well, her outburst was at least loud enough to attract the attention of a certain curious bat-pet, who has decided to stray a little from his partner to investigate! Who knows, maybe someone needs help!

In any case, have a very colorful, head-sized bat… thing hanging in the air just above your head, cooing curiously, Futaba. Whatcha got there, Friend? :3]

[willrevile]

what a wonderful new location!! thanks mods! some questions:

1. if pc refugees choose to engage npc refugees about how they've been able to live in nadril for centuries, what's the scoop on that, if they'll talk? with pcs rendered sterile, is it different for the earlier generations, are they particularly long-lived, do they interact with time differently than linear beings?

2. are npcs aware of the fact that the rest of the planet is frozen in time? would they know how the time discrepancy is achieved, and if so would they answer if questioned?

3. what's the population like in terms of race? mostly human or more of a mixed bag?

4. is there an ic mechanic to turn in spare parts to either darma or magda? and is it possible for spare parts to be taken and kept for personal projects? (i mean quite small bits, not, 'ran away with a computer mainframe somehow')

Olivia | Fire Emblem | OTA

[dancerefresher]

A FROZEN LAND

[It was really great that the station had provided them with clothing and blankets, not to mention rations. Olivia's clothing...was desert friendly. As in, hot weather friendly. Not like storm friendly.

She had been through a few in her life, but always as part of a caravan. And while she did have a lot of stamina, at this moment...she tripped, and fell onto the snow, exhausted. She felt herself shaking a little under her warm clothes.

Olivia could get up...in a minute...]

A WARM(?) WELCOME

I

[Olivia was lucky; she was ushered in by the residences of this new city, checked over like everyone else that made it inside. It was beautiful here but she was tired from the journey.

And despite having a cup of cider in her hands, Olivia was already nodding off, and leaning a little to the side. Guess she was pretty sleepy.]

IV

Wha-Ah!

[She blinked, and stumbled, confused as she had her picture taken. Olivia found herself blinking, eyes watering, as she felt papers fall into her hands. In them it showed...her at all of her performances on the field, in cities, singing, using her sword, using various domestic skills...

It had some of her friends in the photos too, some which hadn't awaken yet. She had to blink back tears from her eyes.]

I'm sorry you're not here...but soon. Maybe you'll all wake up soon.

RECREATION IN NADRIL

II. A.

Oh! This looks fun!

[She clapped her hands, pleased with herself. All right, she was not the most competitive spirit, but she liked being able to make new things!

She leaned forward, pleased, as she tried to figure out what she wanted to try out first.]

Let's see...maybe I should try...

[And she tried reaching for one that was just out of reach-or was being taken by someone else. Whoops?]

THE MISSION

I

"Obedient dogs on Darma's leash..."

[She was troubled by this. She had heard what had happened to the people of this planet, how things were torn apart. And this person...helped kill all those people. By mistake, but still.]

I'm not two hundred years old but...this is a lot to take in.

[She felt more then a little overwhelmed. The other refugees had flourished under his leadership but...still.]

II.

[She wasn't sure if she was going to be much use; all of this was far more advanced then she was used to. But then...she forgot something at first, that she might have had as an advantage in compared to other refugees old and new: she was flexible, and strong.

Not to mention, she was slender. Which meant that given half a chance, she could get into the smaller spaces. When she spotted a likely spot, she'd make a noise, waving her arm.]

Ex-excuse me, could you give me a boost? I think I can get inside that hole.

Wildcard

Have ideas for other prompts, want to mix and match? Ping me on discord or plurk, or just give it a shot here!

iv

[quevalry]

[ there is always two sides of the same coin.

a year ago, lena would have been all for the natha and be thinking they were good. now? she isn't so sure because there is so much that they could have done -- bombings, the attacks and everything else that is akin to those actions. ]

Both? Neither?

We don't have the full story so it's impossible to tell. [ which is frustrating for her. ]

jim kirk ( ota! )

[willrevile]

» tbh this is unnecessarily cold

[ The survival courses on Thesa were a good refresher for Jim; Iowan winters leave him inherently hardy against cold and snow, and further alien landscapes have given him plenty of experience, but it's still useful. He gears up with more than just what the Natha offer in their packs - this is not his first extreme weather rodeo. Carrying a shovel strapped to his back is not the most comfortable thing, but you bet your bacon it's going to be the most useful thing he's got with him on the trek (shut up) to Nadril.

Jim sticks close to the main knot of refugees making their way through the nasty weather, though he drifts to the fringes sometimes, too, herding people if necessary, lending a hand or more where he's able. Perhaps you're not good at this and you end up clipped on a rope to somebody else. Or clipped to him while he leads you back to the group.

He is freezing, of course, and every step in the awful conditions drains energy, but he maintains a (possibly annoying) motivational attitude, Captain Kirk in full effect. When people need to stop, he's happy to use his phaser on a low setting to turn rocks into heaters, and use that shovel to dig out temporary shelters. Or just lend the shovel, if you happen to be of sturdier make than this human. ]

» mission hopefully possible

[ Darma sent them for answers, but Jim feels like he's only got more questions after the audience with Magda. No shit, the Natha are shady and haven't been giving us the full story. That's not news. Madga seems like just another looming figure observing their actions from a distance, capable of apparently incredible feats through the use of technology but only doing so completely arbitrarily. Indistinguishable from the Natha in broad strokes.

It's not a charitable viewpoint, but after the past few months, it's one he can't help but have. Jim forces himself to work out other angles as well; cynicism doesn't suit him, no matter that it's often practical.

He spends a lot of time studying the pictures, and listening. To Madga, to his fellow refugees; not rushing to engage in conversation, though he will.

And hell yeah is he exploring that wreck. He goes in with no real notion in mind about what he might scavenge, if anything (or who he might turn it into if he does), but man is he curious. Distance from the looming negativity of old grudges and unsolved conspiracies will help him get out of his head. ]

» wildcard sightseeing adventures

( Jim will be eager to hit up just about all the recreational and exploratory options! If you want to do anything specific let me know, or just slam in with something. Please switch to prose if you prefer it, I'm equally comfortable with both formats! ♥ )