❪ introlog: #6 ❫ city of secrets

[natha]

You've spent the last few days on Thesa Station, taking in the knowledge that your world is no more. Now, the time to put all your survival training into practice has arrived: El Nysa needs you, and you're here to help the planet thrive. Are you ready? THE DESCENT     All refugees on the station are called to the hangar, where a large-scale teleporter awaits. Simply step onto the space between the arrays and wait; everyone will be sent down to the planet together. Before they depart, all refugees will be given a cold weather survival kit with warm clothing, rations, and bedding. The arrays build into a brilliant wash of light, creating a column that travels all the way from Thesa Station to the surface of El Nysa, teleporting the refugees to the planet on an aurora. Once on the planet's surface, refugees receive one last message from Darma. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet we must ask you to brave further peril. Within Nadril are the secrets to how poor Ysverai's revival was hidden from our sight and how this disaster has come to our star. Find the first refugee from beyond this planet, a man named Magda. He will not speak to us, for much has come between us, but to you… If you prove yourselves, he may be willing to answer your questions. We beseech you, for there is a veil over Nadril that hides all within from us. There may yet be more untold dangers waiting to befall this planet. For the good of all who make this world home, we ask you to lend us your aid. There is yet one more favor we would ask of you. In warding off the Storm's encroachment, the physical aspect of ourselves that you call Thesa Station was damaged. We must remain to continue repairs to El Nysa and to deal with Ysverai, but there should be suitable technology within Nadril that could be used for spare parts. If you have the chance to find it and can return it to us, it would hasten— Darma's message crackles with static, another image overlaying hers — her broadcast is cut off and replaced with another. A more sullen and alien voice takes Darma’s place, overlapping on itself in an ominous reveal. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet you’ve only just arrived here. To say I’m not disappointed in your… generation would be to lie, and I am nothing if not an honest creature. But I suppose these have been unusual circumstances. You must ask yourself this — are you only here as Darma's lapdogs? I can assure you, it's not worth being on the Natha's leash. With time, that will be something you'll have to learn for yourself. If you're so determined to come find Nadril, then follow the path north, and you'll find the border. What awaits you is revelation, if you're up to the challenge. A FROZEN LAND     The refugees land on a literally frozen world, both in temperature and time. Curls of icy wind hold swirls of snow aloft and an uncanny silence is broken only by the crunch of hoarfrost underfoot. Only Darma's protection allows the refugees to move through this frozen world — and movement is very necessary. Bitter cold sneaks through even the thickest clothing and without warning, a snowstorm rises: unnaturally quickly, a wall of white howls directly in the refugee's path. Bizarrely, the way back is perfectly calm; it's obvious that this storm is no product of nature. Magda's challenge becomes clear: the only way to Nadril lies through this storm. Visibility within the storm is near zero, the whiteout hiding any landmarks from view and making navigation near impossible. The only guidance refugees have is a sporadic path of faint, greenish lights, easily lost in the raging storm. Refugees need all the survival skills they practiced on Thesa Station to survive, for getting lost alone is a death sentence. Luckily, those separated from the group can happen upon guiding lights Magda has planted throughout the tundra. These blue-white sparks cause frostbite if handled recklessly, but they also serve as directional anchors, turning into ghostly flames that lead lost souls back to the path to Nadril. The trek through the storm will be no mean feat and will last for the better part of three days. By the time the refugees reach Nadril's gate, most will find themselves exhausted and running on fumes. As the snowstorm dies away and a gap in the glittering forcefield around the city opens to usher the refugees inside, it's clear that Nadril is a different beast. A WARM(?) WELCOME     I. Despite the unforgiving journey, entering Nadril is painless. Once inside, characters will be greeted by their predecessors: the original refugees who made this advanced city. They'll immediately be offered medical attention, as well as warm cider and blankets. But it's obvious that the Nadril citizens prefer higher tech to fend off the weather: they also offer wristlets and ear cuffs that that double as mittens and earmuffs by creating warm bubbles of air. The earrings also feature a few quality of life programs, such as timed alarms and thought-to-speech messaging. However, both programs are in beta stages so it's not unusual for a stray thought to accidentally slip through or an alarm to accidentally ring at an inopportune time. II. Refugees are offered free lodging in a large, crystalline building crafted from ice. Despite the coarse building material, the ice is unmelting and surprisingly well-insulated, and the beds are as warm and cozy. The rooms are, however, small. The sleeping quarters house two people, and are some cross between an igloo and a capsule hotel. Though built for efficiency over comfort, all rooms are also outfitted with the latest Nadril AI, RoboAlfred, or Ralf for short. This helpful program is installed in practically all the furnishings: the closet tells guests to bundle up, the bathroom sink reminds them to brush their teeth, and the mirror offers helpful fashion tips. Ralf's personality matrix still needs polish, though: it may very well insult your clothes and passively-aggressively question your lifestyle choices for the entire stay. III. Though not as advanced as Thesa Station, the colony has technology far beyond the rest of the continent, such as rudimentary AIs and mechanical transportation. Nadril's skyline is a point of pride — refugees can take a (literal) lightrail that gives an aerial view of the colony, which is hewn almost entirely from ice and rock. Despite its tech, Nadril is much more sparsely populated than Olympia and Wyver, and its residents stay near a central hub: a Natha refugee drop ship, Central, which has crashed and long embedded itself into the earth. Central is similar to an older, smaller, grounded model of Thesa Station, in functional order with round-the-clock solar power. Within Central are lounges similar to ones on the Station, though many of the damaged areas have been converted. They include repair stations, different wings dedicated to science, botany, astrology, and mechanics, and a research and history facility, which has a smattering of technology from planets beyond El Nysa — including your own. The staff here don't mind if anything is sampled and studied, but objects cannot be taken from the labs. IV. On the outskirts of the central hub, many will find several curious looking bots with insect-like wings perched about high traffic walkways. Simply passing the bots will cause a dizzying flash before a series of photos print out. Upon closer inspection, people will find that these images reflect stills taken from their home worlds as they remember it. Unfortunately, these photos only last a couple of hours at best. At that time, they will revert back to regular pictures of the refugees. People will be encouraged to share these images of their worlds. The residents of Nadril comprehend the value of remembering one's origins, and will be pleased to see that people still hold memories of old homes close to them. RECREATION IN NADRIL     I. Small, mechanical creatures scampering through the city are a common sight. Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you that they come from a shop called Paws About Town. They’re very useful, as companions, gophers, and couriers (though the more mischievous will note that they’re just small enough to keep tabs on people without being noticed). Premade robotic pets are available on display inside the shop. They come in all shapes, but small sizes; one may be able to find robots that even look like miniature creatures from their homeworld. These are a part of a new, highly customizable line with programmable personalities. Customers have the chance to take pets for a one-day trial run. Those who don’t know how to program may want to enlist more knowledgeable aid, but the pets come with instructional pamphlets for basic personality traits such as obedience, helpfulness, playfulness, and bloodthirst. For returns, the switch to wipe the robot's personality to a blank slate is on the back of its neck, right between a switch to invert all traits, and a switch to have them learn by observing. Try not to press the wrong switch — you might wind up with a pet with a mind of its own! II. A. The Frosty Tap Cantina is a thriving hub of activity, but one of the major draws is the self-service bar: molecular mixology is wildly popular here. Playing with drink compositions can be a game in and of itself, and newcomers to the cantina will find that the bartender — a cheerful woman with lilac skin and three eyes — is always happy to give them a few tips on how to use the wide array of tools within reach of the barstools. All manner of drinks are possible — from glowing, layered cocktails, to clear drinks with colored, spherical bubbles and vividly-colored shots that give off their own smoke. There's a nightly contest in the cantina for the most creative drink created by a team — this may be as good a time as any to partner up with someone and see what can you come up with. Winner gets all their drinks for the night free! And, hey, even if you don't win, you get to drink whatever you make. The well-lubricated patrons of the bar are eager to challenge anyone nearby to a different sort of drinking game… Just how well can you hold your liquor? B. Holo-screens in the cantina are nearly always broadcasting some match or another of a game that looks very much like hockey, albeit played with sticks that light up and a puck that changes shape from time to time. Colonists here merely refer to the game as "the sport," and one of their favored pastimes is betting. However, they don't use currency — they wager dares. Nadril colonists are a tough, weathered lot, and they prefer to speak with actions over silver. Colonists will urge the refugees to take part as well. Common dares range from the ridiculous (lead a sing-a-long, attempt to make someone with a poker face smile) to the suggestive (kiss the person in the cantina you find most attractive, strip off a piece of clothing), to the outright reckless (venture out into the snow for a certain amount of time, and no one will judge if you find some company to keep warm). The colonists are unfazed by even the most insane or tawdry of dares — but you'll certainly be called a killjoy for refusing too often! Why not grab a friend and give it a whirl, or challenge a rival to a dare yourself? THE MISSION     I. On the outskirts of Nadril is the communications tower of the old refugees. This is where Magda resides, monitoring Nadril's technological protections, the extent of the Natha’s influence, and running his own personal projects for El Nysa’s technological advancement. It is isolated, filled with research labs and relics of the past refugees who have come to El Nysa — a living mausoleum of worlds swallowed up by the Storm whose peoples have refused to forget where they came from. Crew photos line the walls of the tower: pictures of alien families and friends, the refugees who came to Nadril before you. Each group of photos gradually becomes smaller in number, and the most recent of the pictures are from half a century ago. Magda's picture can be found among the first group of refugees, an unusually small cluster of photos dating back centuries in El Nysa's past. I have been on this planet for nearly two centuries. Life has come, evolved, and collided in an ever expanding culture. But Darma fears interference, and made this place a prison, with she our warden, stifling the growth of the creatures native to this world rather than encouraging them to flourish. She sent you here for answers in her stead because she knows I'll spurn her, and after seeing what that fool Raysc has wrought, I'll give you them — not for Darma's sake, but because I trust after all the Natha have done to you, you'll understand my decision. Mistakes were made, and I won't hide them. You've made it here so there's some mettle to you, and unlike the Orbiters, I'm not interested in hiding the secrets of the dangers we face. I gave Raysc what he needed to keep his actions hidden from Darma's eyes — what he needed to advance the primitive magics the Natha had doomed him to. It was old Natha tech, Darma's very own used against her. Hilarious, isn't it? Raysc learned of Nadril, and like you, braved the snow to find his way here. He proved his worth and his determination, and he spoke of a brighter future, El Nysa coming into its own, its people realizing their true potential, unhindered by the shackles that had been put upon them. I believed him. He had vision — or so I thought. In truth, he was a fool. A madman. He wasted the opportunity I gave him on his petty vengeance. But not everyone on this planet is such an idiot. Surely you lot aren't. The Natha are hiding things from us — about the Storm, about everything. And here in Nadril, we're going to find all those secrets. What's it going to be? Will you help us, or are you going to stay obedient dogs on Darma's leash? Magda isn't too talkative yet; after all, the new flock of refugees may just be here as eyes and ears for the Orbiters. But what he has said leaves you with plenty to talk about, and if you can earn his trust by helping out around Nadril, he doubtless has a great deal more to reveal. II. Central isn't the only Natha ship that made its way to El Nysa — another, crashed just outside Nadril's borders, is little more than a junk heap. It's here that you'll find the spare parts Darma asked you to retrieve for Thesa Station. What remains of the ship's hull serves as a windbreak, and snow has built up against it, turning the piles of old Natha tech inside into something of a snowy morass. Holes in the deck offer would-be scavengers passage to the ship's innards, barely illuminated with flickering lights — the tech is old, but hardy enough to withstand a crash landing, the severe weather, and the passage of centuries. Deep in the wreck are the remains of living quarters, research labs, VR arenas, mecha bays, cafeterias, and a host of other rooms, many of which may seem familiar from Thesa Station, albeit with a decidedly older feel to what remains of the smooth curves and sleek surfaces of the Natha architecture. Most of the ship's systems are damaged and the technology is nonfunctional, but that just means there's plenty of spare parts to be found. The wreck isn't in the best shape, its structural integrity damaged, and the drifting snow threatens to block off exit routes. Be careful while exploring and be sure to bring a partner. As it turns out, Darma isn't the only one interested in the wreck — Magda is also eager to get his hands on Natha technology. In his own way of taking some responsibility for Raysc, he's asking scavengers to bring him parts, muttering about seeing what he can do about Ysverai's curse. Bring him anything that looks useful, and he may have a chance to succeed, though whether he'll be more effective than the Natha Orbiters is up for debate... FINAL OOC NOTES     An AC-eligible thread with a new character as a participant for 2 NADRIL REP POINTS may be submitted from this log. SUBMIT THE THREAD HERE BY AUGUST 5TH, 11:59 PM EST. As always, feel free to create your own prompts and explore the Nadril location page! There are a variety of activities made available, including fishing and cave exploration! Please direct questions to the questions thread below! Thank you! QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[conqueredhearts]

This again? The histories were truly eager to paint me small, weren't they. Then again, I suppose they found my accomplishments more impressive with a smaller body.

[He studies the man curiously now. This has been by far the most interesting reaction to his revelation of who he is.]

I am Macedonian though. I fail to see why that would be in question of all matters.

[ukase]

All the history books I didn't read say you're tiny, though I suppose for your original rule you were average size for a Greek man.

[He supposed he could see Macedonian if he bothered to. Don't blame him the history books decided to make the guy tiny and dark-haired.]

...so are you here to wage another campaign to unite under one rule?

[conqueredhearts]

Bah. They like to paint me small because it would be easier for them to accept.

[He waves a hand dismissively. Histories often paint things wrong in his experience since they're stories told by those who weren't even there.]

As for conquering this place, no. I would find no pleasure in it even with my abilities dampened as they are. No, I will wait until my humanity has been restored to me so I may have the same limits as any other man.

[ukase]

But history is written by the victors, and by all accounts, you were rather victorious through most of your campaign. Maybe you were slandered by your own people?

[Historians were only somewhat useful anyway. They tended to gloss over facts for flowery monologue, and he had no time for that.]

What pleasure did you have in it the last time?

[conqueredhearts]

[At the very suggestion, he actually bursts out laughing.]

Why would it be terrible to be written as being small? There is no shame in it. No, I think it is simply a mistake of future generations.

[He waves his hand dismissively. It's clearly not that big a deal to him.]

There are many pleasures to be had. But what I speak of is having the same limitations as any other person. To know that I could lose just as easily as I could win.

[ukase]

Because they were willing to write you small, what other details had they fudged with inaccuracies?

[This guy seemed like the eternal optimist, which wasn't exactly what he had been expecting from Alexander the Great. He thought someone upright and stuffy, what with being from an Age were bathing was a luxury that was optional and people thinking that personal hygiene was sometimes an affront to God.]

Oh, you like a challenge, do you? Well, you're probably in the right place.

[conqueredhearts]

Probably a great deal! Such is the way of history. Especially when it has been told and retold and retold again!

[There really isn't anything wrong with that though. Sometimes it's better to embellish a story a bit. Even one that is factually true. It's why he feels that people could simply come to him and ask for what really happened. Since, you know, he was there.]

Ah, you think so? I have yet to see any of that so far. But I am hopeful that I will witness what you are saying, my friend!

[ukase]

You're taking the very idea that people see you inaccurate because of bad retellings better than expected. I suppose it just sort of bemuses you.

[Rumlow shook his head. Of course, he was used to only a certain tale being told about him, repeated over and over again like it was the single thing he had done in his life. He had grown used to ignoring it since coming here. No point explaining himself to people who had no interest in listening.

Geez, this was definitely a guy to follow around just to see if he could start a bar fight in hopes to watching the actions. It could be entertaining!]

Well, there are always missions you can take. They offer a sort of fun challenge.

[conqueredhearts]

Bemuses? I suppose you could say that. Mostly I just see no reason to focus on the matter. It hardly matters and is easily corrected by talking with me.

[Why sweat the small stuff when it doesn't matter in the long run? That's his take on this. Iskandar smiles at the man and actually gives a shrug. Because none of this is actually that big of a deal.]

Ah! I had heard about the missions. They seemed as though they would be interesting! Perhaps we should do one together, my friend!

[Someone never asked to be adopted into this friendship but he's here now.]

[ukase]

[Totally a glass half full kind of guy. He was curious what subject, if any, would dampen this guy's outlook. He was curious enough that he might just consider hanging out to poke at various subjects to see if it would happen just so he could enjoy that moment, assuming it came about. Besides, he always enjoyed a challenge!

And it seemed that opportunity was presented at the suggestion of missions. He honestly hadn't had anyone that was willing to do them. It was an opportunity that didn't seem worthwhile denying.]

Do I get an choice in this? [He probably didn't, and he couldn't care either.]

[conqueredhearts]

[Excuse him as he suddenly looks mildly baffled. That's not at all the question he was expecting to get in return!]

My assumption was these were voluntary? Why would you not have a choice in the matter? If you find you dislike me then we simply need not work together.

[Apparently it is as simple as that for the large man. Don't like him? Don't agree with him? Well then don't work with him. He is not about to force anyone into doing something with him. He knows that could only breed the possibility of failure. In matters like this, that simply is not an option in his opinion.]

[ukase]

[All missions were voluntary, and some people took them more than others. Friendship was apparently voluntary as well, and it amused him that this guy hadn't thought to clarify, just bulldozed right in thinking that they would immediately be friends. It wasn't a designation he gave often, mostly because of the whole shorter lifespan kind of gig he lived.]

I don't dislike you, but I don't know you either. You're like a big friendly bear or something. I won't say no to a mission, but I figure you and I have different styles on how to run one.

[It wasn't a no though. Seeing Alexander the Great in action? Hell yes.]

[conqueredhearts]

Oh? How would you run one?

[No comment on the big friendly bear part. Largely because he sees no reason in correcting it. He's big. He's friendly. He's capable of ripping someone apart just like a bear. Rather accurate description of himself honestly.]

[ukase]

Depends on the objective. Snatch and grab I tend to do my research, find out the layout, security, rotations of staff and plan multiple routes of attack. Information acquisition takes longer, since you have to warm people up to you first.

[This guy was totally his big friendly bear partner or something. He could appreciate it more once he saw the guy mad, he assumed.]

[conqueredhearts]

What is wrong with these methods? They are thorough and well thought out. Better still, they have a high chance of success.

[Not that he'd necessarily do them himself depending on the situation but he can still agree they're good methods.]

[ukase]

There's nothing wrong with them, but they're generally not methods other people would use.

[And that's the point. His methodology was generally based on a military standard. Many were less inclined to such an approach.]

[conqueredhearts]

Well I can't guarantee I would either. However, I can't guarantee I wouldn't at the same time. I like to look at every situation as it comes and face each case with the knowledge that every circumstance is new and unique.

[A smile spreads his lips as he looks at the man before him here.]

I like you. You have the mind of a soldier.

[ukase]

[Okay, so maybe, just maybe, he could believe this was a master strategist with an outlook like that. He could appreciate it, since every situation was different and required a unique tactic in order to take it.]

That's because I am a soldier. I've been soldiering in some capacity for a long time.

[conqueredhearts]

Then you must have yourself a high ranking where you hail from!

[He looks impressed as he gives a nod to show his approval.]

There are not many that can live the life of a soldier, after all.

[ukase]

I'm respected for my opinion on how to run an operation.

[That wasn't the same as rank. He had a respectable level in SHIELD, but his military rank was something he purposefully kept low. He liked soldiering, not paperwork.]

Not for most of their lives, no. People get out after a few years, assuming they survive.

[conqueredhearts]

You are a fascinating man! I quite like you, my friend.

[He obviously means that too with the way his eyes light up as he says it. This new friend of his is a fascinating man. He's already looking forward to getting to know him better and more about his life as a soldier.]

Tell me, what would you do if you were no longer a soldier? What life would you want to have?

[ukase]

That's not a reaction I get often.

[Rumlow wasn't in any of this to be liked. He understood that his personality was jarring for many, so it was interesting that this big man took a shine to him. He doubted it would last long.]

I work for the government doing special operation work. Not the military, but it keeps me in the same line. I don't think I'd do anything else.

[conqueredhearts]

Special operation work?

[Well if you thought he looked intrigued before you were wrong. This is actually his intrigued face.]

What do you do for this work? Is it secretive?

[ukase]

[Well, he probably should have known better than to say anything, but it was fine to be truthful most of the time. It made the lies go down easier. This guy... was earnestly intrigued, and it amused him greatly.]

Very secretive, not that it matters. I was on a team who rescued hostages on one side of the scale and helped to overturn corrupt governments in other countries on the other.

[conqueredhearts]

Hostage rescue and overturning corruption? That is amazing work that you do! Not just anyone could handle such tasks.

[He gives a pump of his fist.]

Aha! That is why you gave me the answers before about how you handle missions. That is similar to what you do for your work.