❪ 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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a

[enfeeble]

[ Next to him, All Might is looking a little worse for wear as well but that's. It's par for the course for him. He observes Ren with sunken eyes and sallow cheeks, taking his time with a response as he tries to spot sign of injury or strain.

There doesn't seem to be anything too obvious, but more often the worst of scars tend to manifest on the inside, All Might notes sagely. ]

It's been a difficult journey for everyone. [ He agrees placidly. ] If you're tired, I can carry you to the hotel, young man. I won't be paying your stay there, however!

[ Don't get any ideas! ]

[thedarkbond]

[The less said about the kinds of scars Ren's going to be nursing on the inside given time here, the better. For now, he laughs a little at the offer and straightens up slightly, leaning on his elbows to look at the other man.]

I'm sure I can find a way around that with the staff. I'm good at negotiating~ [It's hard to keep himself leaning like this when he's still shivering, though, so he flops down again with an exaggeratedly pathetic air a moment or two later.] But if it's been difficult for everyone, then it wouldn't really be fair to ask you to carry me, right? Even if it's pretty tempting.

[Despite his obvious exhaustion, Ren's tone remains upbeat and as unfazed as it can be when the shiver is occasionally creeping its way in there.]

[enfeeble]

[ Ren gets All Might to laugh despite his exhaustion, if nothing else. Finding his confidence endearing, All Might gives him a cheeky smily. ]

Is that so! We can make a fine exchange then: I will carry you if you bargain me free accommodations.

[ Granted, their stay in the hotel is actually free, but word of that has yet to reach All Might. And that aside, he doesn't mind helping out a young person: he hadn't been particularly useful during the trek itself, more damsel than dashing hero, and it's put him in an odd mood.

Left him itching for some hero work, perhaps. ]

[thedarkbond]

[That particular news hasn't reached Ren yet either, with how in his own head he's been so far, so he claps his hands together with a pleased smile (if also a sideways one, with how he's lying down).]

That sounds good to me. It wasn't much use on the trip, but maybe my business skills can still come in useful now that we've actually found civilisation again.

[Ren is more of a "work in the background and only step to the front lines at the eleventh hour" sort of guy. Manipulation, organisation and negotiation are his strong points, not physically grueling tasks like marching through snowstorms for days at a time.]

Are you sure you'll be ok, though...?

[enfeeble]

[ He has to appreciate the boy's confidence. Maybe he's being a little youthful himself – taking on a task that he's not entirely sure that his frailer body can accomplish. It would be a simple thing to simply exert himself and let his hero form take care of it, but there's something in him that's still too desperate to protect that secret. ]

I'll be fine, young man. [ He pats Ren's shoulder, urging him up so that he can climb onto All Might's back, which is a feat in itself when he stands at over seven feet tall. ] I'm much stronger than I look!

[ That's dubious, and he actually has no idea what will happen if he pushes himself like this, but there's only one way to find out. He can't rely on his Quirk forever. ]

And the thought of a free night on a soft bed is plenty motivating!

[thedarkbond]

[Ren makes a faintly whiny noise at being urged upright, but he does sit up after a fashion, with a somewhat exaggerated stretching motion.]

Well, if you say so~ [Thankfully, while Ren is a good foot and a bit shorter than seven feet, he does have long limbs. And also he's light enough to probably get away with standing on what he was just sitting on for a boost. Maybe. He'll find out once he stands on it.

Thankfully, it doesn't immediately give way beneath him, so he takes the opportunity to attempt to clamber onto the other man's back despite how little his limbs want to actually cooperate with him at this point.]

I'll do my best to keep up my end of the bargain, then. It's good business.

[enfeeble]

[ Admittedly, All Might does let out a slight huff of exertion once Ren climbs onto his back. The body beneath him is thin, skeletal and likely not that comfortable due to lack of padding, but he holds firm as he begins the trek toward the hotel. ]

I trust you.

[ Which is true enough. Ren would have to be a particularly rotten scoundrel to take advantage of an old man like this, and All Might doesn't think that he is. He doesn't show any hesitation as he walks along, holding Ren steady while keeping careful of his injured side. ]

Just don't squeeze my sides too much. I might actually kneel over then!

[thedarkbond]

[Ren frowns a little concernedly at that initial huff of breath, but he's not one to judge if someone wants to test their strength. It's more interesting this way, anyway - not something he would've initially expected out of a guy like this, and he's very fine with having his expectations challenged in this particular way.

He can't help but laugh at that request, though.] I think that would be pretty rude anyway, so I'll just have to hope my arms don't give out on the way there.

[He's probably fine to just do this, though - his arms are a lot less strained than his legs are currently.

After a few moments, he tilts his head up and blinks, like he forgot something.] Oh, that was rude of me too...what's your name?

[enfeeble]

[ That's probably a valid concern. The journey had been difficult, and All Might wouldn't be surprised if Ren dozed off right there on his back and slid off. It wouldn't bother him much at least, since he has no qualms with princess carrying Ren all the way to the hotel.

Though this way is considerably more wholesome. He doesn't want anyone to think he's some kind of predator.

He falters only slightly at Ren's questions. #identityissues ]

Toshinori Yagi. [ Then, he chuckles. ] And yours? It seems that we both need to work on our manners.

[thedarkbond]

[Ren notes the slight hesitation, but doesn't remark on it. It could mean any number of things, after all, and he doesn't know enough about this man yet to judge exactly what. He's intuitive, but not quite that intuitive.

When asked for his name, he gives a bright smile.] Suzugamori Ren, but just Ren is fine. I guess as long as we didn't forget to introduce ourselves at all, it's nothing to worry about~

[Admittedly, Ren's used to having to do it early as a trapping of business dealings, or people already knowing him by reputation, but it's kind of nice to be introducing himself normally again.]

Did they say how far away the place we're staying is...?

[enfeeble]

[ . . .

Pulled away from his thoughts about their late introductions, All Might realizes that Ren has a very valid point. ]

Where is that hotel, I wonder? [ He murmurs to himself, brows furrowed as he glances around them. If he was in his bigger form, then it would only take a couple of leaps for him to find his way, but he's stuck taking his journey one step at a time.

He cranes his neck to look back at Ren. ]

We'll have to ask for directions.

[thedarkbond]

[Well, at least it got brought up before they got hopelessly lost, so Ren will consider that a win. He shrugs a bit at the notion that they'll have to ask for directions, though.]

It's fine, I'm used to that. [It's in the same cheery tone as ever, but he immediately narrows his eyes into an unnecessarily obvious squint that's probably just making it harder to see. He's looking for people, he swears.]

Hopefully the people here are nice enough to talk to us, though. I don't know if that welcoming committee quite made up for the snowstorm...