❪ 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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PHOTO + MAYBE MISSION?

[america]

Steve's got a small handful of photographs himself, but these he keeps in one hand, all straight-edged and neatly lined up like maybe they're a little too precious for him to linger over, like the memories aren't worth it when everything around him is so alien.

He's on his way to collecting some parts for Magda, a willing participant now of the mission he'd decided was a good chance to find some answers about what had happened to the planet that sent them into space for safety. But mementos from a world destroyed a year ago seem to be all he's discovering tonight - at least for now.

He makes his way past the flashing bots, coming up behind Bucky Barnes. And because he hadn't expected to see his best friend awake and out of his pod, it takes him a second, two, three before he notes the metal hand peeking out from a sleeve and the flash of familiar New York monuments before they're crushed into the pocket of his jacket: the Brooklyn Bridge, the brownstone buildings, the New York skyline ... well, shit. Everything else falls into place with a rush of relief and something like comfort, knowing that he's been given another chance to see his closest friend alive and awake and ... hopefully aware of who he is.

He's a little teasing (and maybe he's testing the waters here) when he says casually, "They never could keep you up in that pod for long, could they?"

[lednikovyy]

The thing is Bucky had known that Steve's here. He's known since they were up on the station. So much kept happening, though, and then they were swept down here to trek through the snow and Bucky had been more focused on not letting anyone freeze than finding Steve, who he'd known would be fine--and yes, he knows that he's been procrastinating. He could have reached out and he hasn't, even with Peggy invitation hanging in the air.

He'd had every intention to, but it's easy to find excuses to avoid his fears when his fears are about Steve. It's hard not to be worried. His brain is already missing so many memories and now he's missed Steve and Peggy and this whole planet. After everything Steve's done for him, he has so much to make up to Steve and he's not even sure where to start.

He shoves at the pictures more forcefully, wanting desperately for Steve to never see the second set. It's too real and too painful and Steve has an idea of what HYDRA did to Bucky, but as far as Bucky's concerned that's more than enough. It's certainly more than Bucky would have ever wanted him to know.

Now, Steve's words hit him a little funny. It's a joke, he thinks, but Steve's words make it hard not to think about the cryo unit in that picture and when he turns to Steve, his smile is entirely forced.

"Can't keep me anywhere for long."

[america]

Steve tucks his own set of pictures into the pocket of his trousers, and nods in response to Bucky's comment. The forced expression in the other man's face is enough to sober him, but his tone is still light when he speaks.

"No, I guess not." There's a pause, and then, because he has to ask (leaving it up to his best friend to interpret just what he means): "You okay, Buck?"

[lednikovyy]

"Couldn't be better." That forced smile is going nowhere fast. "Other than that whole thing where the world ended."

Which is probably harder on Steve than it is on Bucky, anyway. His loved ones who were still alive make up a list of one and it's standing right in front of him. Peggy's a more-than-pleasant surprise, but he won't let himself hope that any of his family is miraculously alive in the pods back on the station and even if they are, he's not sure he'd want any of them to see what he is now.

"How are you holding up?" The question's a little more genuine than his own answer. Steve had been willing to sacrifice a lot for Bucky and Bucky's always been more than a little protective when it comes to Steve. Old habits die hard.

[america]

"Couldn't be better," Steve echoes, mouth quirking into the edge of a smile more genuine than the one reflected on his best friend's face. He shrugs. "I've been here -" He waves a hand in their general surroundings, meaning the planet of course, not this city specifically "- for a little over a year now."

He's still not sure what to think of it, every day a new set of eggshells to walk across. But he's got friends here, and more importantly, he's had Peggy, and it does make the world of a difference. It's kept him from sinking into hopelessness.

"Every day's a new surprise and a reminder that the world we know is a memory now." And speaking of memory ... "This might be a strange question, but I've gotta ask. Do you remember anything about this place? Or Olympia?"

[lednikovyy]

Bucky just shakes his head. He knows he's been awake before, but he can't remember anything about this place or most of these people.

"Last thing I remember before waking up, you and I were in Siberia with Stark." Stark had looked ready to kill him, too. That's the last thing he remembers.

"But at least I'm used to missing memories, right? Just give me a heads up if there's anyone I've pissed off." And then something on his face warms a little. It's not quite a natural smile, but there's something in his eyes that hints at one. "It's good to see you, Steve. How much trouble have you gotten into without me?"

[america]

"I'm a little after you, then. Last thing that happened -" Steve pauses. Is there any kind of danger in telling someone the future if their planet couldn't be wrecked any longer?

Maybe it's a blessing that Bucky goes on, gives him an opportunity to avoid having to make a decision at all. It occurs to him that he'd never had that conversation with the Buckys who woke up here and went back to sleep. Somehow they knew better than to talk about it, or maybe neither of them really thought to ask.

He'll tell Bucky about it later. Now isn't exactly the time anyway.

"At this point, Tony's no fan of either of us, so he's about the only one I can think of." And the last two times Tony had woken up, things hadn't really changed. He scoffs, then. But it's in good humour, head ducking slightly. "Don't worry, Buck - I haven't done anything stupid. How can I, right?" He remembers their conversation from before the war like it was yesterday, and he hopes that Bucky will understand him when he says: "You took all the stupid with you."

[lednikovyy]

Bucky's about to tell him that Stark has shitty taste, anyway, but the thought brings him back to the fact that Steve knows he killed Howard. Steve had known for who knows how long and he never said anything, never looked at Bucky like a murderer or a monster. He'd still looked at Bucky like his best friend and still stood by him like he's some innocent man.

Then Steve just keeps talking and it hits him like a punch in the gut. It's like those first cracks Steve had forced into his conditioning back in DC on that helicarrier, but this time it's less confusing and maybe a little less painful.

The memory is so vivid he could practically re-live it and he grunts and pulls Steve into a tight hug.

"You're still a punk."

[america]

"And you're still a jerk."

It's said fondly, and very barely muffled when Steve returns the hug with just as much affection. He claps his friend's back for good measure, reassured by the realness of the other man. No matter how many years its been, how strong or not strong Steve is, he'll always be grateful for Bucky's presence; somehow, the world just isn't complete without him around.

When they draw back, Steve tips his head, gesturing towards the direction of the main city. "Where you heading to now?"

[lednikovyy]

"I was thinking about heading over to that wreck to scavenge." Though he's still not sure who he's scavenging for. That's something he needs to figure out. For now, he figures it isn't a bad plan to get himself some leverage in the form of valuable scraps.

"Unless you've got a better offer." Salvage can wait if Steve wants him to go somewhere. He's still got to pick Steve's brain about this place, anyway.

[america]

"Actually, that's what I was thinking. I was going to bring a few pieces over to that guy, Magda. He might have some of the answers we're looking for. And even if he doesn't, we need to try. I don't feel right sitting around."

Steve never did like sitting idly, and he likely never will either.

[lednikovyy]

"Of course you don't." Bucky laughs, but he knows he's the same way. Sitting by and doing nothing is hard. Even on the run, he'd had to try to keep himself busy at times. When there are actually things that should be done? Bucky's going to do them.

He's thankful than the pictures can lie forgotten in his pocket, like an active grenade. The pin has been pulled but as long as they stay in there, it won't go off. "What are we waiting for?"

Steve's a guy who needs backup, even with all the muscles, and Bucky's always been happiest in that role, looking after Steve not because he has to buy because he wants to. And also because Steve is suicidally stupid at times.

[america]

Steve flashes an amused smile, edged with the familiarity of that petulance he's always had as a skinny young punk, daring his foes to test him. (It's the kind of smile that leads to the 'suicidally stupid' decisions he's capable of making - so, yeah. Good call on that one, Barnes.)

He easily shrugs a shoulder - but he's glad, real glad, that Bucky wants to do this too - together.

The last couple times Bucky had been awake, he'd kept his distance and Steve never wanted to press him. In truth, it's been years since they've really had the chance to do anything together - and no, running away and punching fellow Avengers doesn't exactly count.

"The more we can get together, the better our chances of getting the opportunity to talk to this guy." He jerks his head towards the borders, past the bustling hub. Conversationally: "So, the stroll through the arctic tundra didn't tire you out, huh?"

[lednikovyy]

Bucky shakes his head with a little smile playing at his lips. "I'm still standing, aren't I?"

Sure, it had been pretty grueling, but Bucky imagines that he and Steve had an easier time of it than most people. The cold is real, but the fear of losing limbs is a lower priority. He'd been more focused on keeping everyone else going safely.

"What do you make of all of this stuff, anyway?" Because if there's anyone whose judgment he trusts, it's Steve's, especially after what Steve just did for him. There's a loyalty there that runs through him and even when he's unsure how Steve sees him, he knows how he sees Steve.

"The Natha and this business with them sending us here, I mean."

[america]

"Probably a lot that has to be said behind closed doors and fairly robust soundproofing," Steve says blase. "But I'll accept that they probably had little choice in the matter. We couldn't have stayed up on the station forever."

Not with the power reserves on the fritz. And not with the newly awake passengers, adding to more mouths to feed and bodies to house.

(Not that Steve's complaining at all about the latter. He's got his best friend back again, and that's something he won't take for granted.)

But yeah, he's been a little skeptical since day one of this crazy post-world life even with the gratitude he has for the Natha scooping them out of a destroyed universe and bringing them here, even if he still can't understand why.

[lednikovyy]

(continued here)