❪ 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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Frozen Land

[lancings]

[ The revving jars Cordelia out of her frozen, half-addled self, having been falling into a bit of a trance from the long trek. She can hardly feel anything below her waist even with the leggings and fur-lined boots she'd been given. It's not enough to chase away how poorly adjusted she is to being this far outside of Ylisse, and to top it all off, that sharp buzzing sound puts her on edge.

Her lance comes swinging out, fingers too numb to grip it as well as she'd like even with gloves on, but she's not about to go down without a fight. That is, until she sees who or 'what' her assailant is. That is most definitely not any kind of horse or pegasus she's ever seen, yet the young woman rides it as valiantly as a knight. Cordelia isn't sure what to think as she stumbles a bit and returns her lance to its perch on her back. ]

My apologies, you startled me with ...t-that. Is it some kind of iron horse?

[ Given the large ship that brought them here, should she really be surprised by this? Yet every second brings with it a new discovery. ]

[revver]

[ Getting threatened with a lance... now she kinda feels back at home, or at least a palace (or mementos). Kind of weird to feel familiar, but hey, at least she doesn't lose her cool in front of the weapon.

Makoto is aware that some people come from radically different worlds and even time periods, but still, it's a bit bizarre to hear the young woman say that. ]

Oh, Johanna is a motorcycle. I guess it's a good comparison.

[ Consdering that her Persona is a part of herself, Makoto can't even say that the motorcycle isn't alive per se; explaining the true nature of her vehicle might take too long at the moment though. ]

Come on, hop in. We can go faster than any horse you know.

[lancings]

[ She has her misgivings about such a loud ...'motorcycle'. It doesn't appear to be alive even if it is making sounds and vibrating on its own. But certainly it would have eyes, a mouth, some sort of breathing apparatus? ]

She seems ...friendly.

[ The 'motorcycle' hasn't snapped any teeth at her or attacked either, so she has no real reason to be afraid aside from simply not wholly understanding what it is. But the girl seems kind enough, and Cordelia does feel some unspoken kinship with other riders which leads her to climbing behind rather carefully onto the 'motorcycle' and slowly circling her arms around the girl's midsection as she would any of her fallen sisters. ]

My balance is difficult to compromise, so you should have no worries about me falling. I've flown faster than many horses before.

[ And just how fast can this 'motorcycle' be anyway? ]

I will leave the charge to you.

[revver]

[ Well, Johanna does have a face, which might make things a bit more confusing to explain.

Makoto smiles at the woman's remark. ]

She's very well behaved, if a bit... vehement. Always brings the strongest side of me.

[ It's totally different if another female hugs her from behind, yes. Makoto tells herself this over and over as she tries to not go red like a beet. It's the cold, totally. She doesn't remember the last time she was so close to anyone but it doesn't matter she can totally do this. ]

Ah- sure. We'll be on our way now. [ Revving up actually helps her clear her mind. Johanna is more than capable of driving on her own, so Makoto doesn't need to fear actually falling to the snow. Still, steering the handle gives her a confidence she can't quite define.

Shortly after, Makoto guns it. They go from fast to way too fast for a bike to go on snow without skidding, but both Makoto's expert driving and Johanna's uniqueness maintain them on course. ]

...wait, you said flown?

[lancings]

[ Man, I derped and forgot what Johanna looks like woops And cue Cordelia regretting her life choices as she squeezes the poor girl even tighter. Perhaps too tight. Normally, she'd be mindful of not cutting off someone else's oxygen supply, but this 'motorcycle' creature is definitely far faster than any horse or pegasus can reach.

She shuts her eyes against the bracing winds and presses her face to Makoto's back, just waiting for it to be over. Fortunately, for the both of them, she has a strong stomach and can also focus enough to know she's being asked a question. ]

Yes, my pegasu- is it really necessary to go this fast?!

[ She wants to be out of the snow as much as anyone else, but she can't help feeling like she'll fly off at any moment. So much for being the kind of person who could stay on a pegasus even while doing fancy flips. ]

I am rather fine if we arrive just a bit later! I am not that cold!!

[revver]

[ The pressure around her, combined with the yelp, makes Makoto laugh. It's a very interesting feeling, to be unintentionally giving someone a hard time. She knows some people do it on purpose, as a way to be playfully mean, but she never saw herself in that light. Could it be she has achieved it, somehow? The thought makes her laugh again, but Makoto also slows down. ]

Don't worry, I'm not in a hurry either. I think I heard the word "Pegasus"? As In flying horse? I'd love to hear more about that.

[lancings]

[ Even with the slower speed, she doesn't feel entirely confident about her balance. There's something all too precarious about not being in control of the beast they ride on. She forces herself to loosen her grip anyway as she tries to re-focus her thoughts on the young woman's words. ]

I could tell you all there is to know about them. I've grown up with them for years since I first wanted to be a Pegasus Knight. They're majestic and graceful, far too brave in the midst of battle. They don't fly away from the enemy or cower. It's a shame I awoke without mine. We've practically been glued together for years. Do you share the same kinship with your 'motorcycle'?

[ She's still dubious how sentient it is, but she'll reserve her judgment. There's a great deal she doesn't know about other worlds, and knights come in all varieties. Upon a winged horse or a questionable looking carriage with only two wheels. ]

[revver]

Pegasus knight.

[ Now that's one hell of a badass title. Rank? She's not sure, but it sounds awesome and she wants to be one. Kinda. ]

I suppose so? You could say that Johanna is a very literal part of myself. Once we stop I could show you exactly what I mean.

[ It's specially complicated, because most motorcycles aren't really like Johanna. ]

Maybe you'll get to reunite with your pegasus later on? Does it have a name?

[lancings]

It's more common of a position than in other worlds. At least, around Ylisse. We used to have an entire squadron of them.

[ Key word being used to. Now, it's just her, and to an extent, Sumia as well. Will their numbers ever recover? She'll have to train more eventually, but there are no pegasi around as far as she'd been able to discern. ]

My own pegasus was named Aurora. She was one of the bravest of the lot. I wish she had been saved with me.

[ It would certainly make for easier transport than this oddly-shaped steed they're both on. Cordelia finds it more difficult to get nauseous when she's on air than when she's speeding across land at this ridiculous velocity. ]

In many ways, she was also a part of me as well.

[revver]

I see.

[ Makoto's never been particularly good when it comes to the more emotional stuff, so she opts for not saying something that might insensitive. ]

I've heard you can ask favors to the Natha though? Maybe in time you can find a way to get her back.

[lancings]

Do they grant them without question or is there some kind of a twist to issuing a request? I don't know how far we can trust them at the moment.

[ She hasn't exactly seen a lot of goodwill from them and has her doubts. Very few good things are ever handed out for free, so she's sure there must be some kind of extra requirement -perhaps something that might involve humiliation or worse. ]

Have you met anyone else who requested something from them? How did they fare?

[ It's best she does as much research beforehand before committing to such a thing. All she wants is to be reunited with her dear fried, and she knows she's not the only one. There are a lot of people out there who want some kind of companionship, and she might be asking for too much already. She has some of the fellow shepherds with her -she only wants a proper way to fight and defend herself, but she can be adaptable if need be. ]