INTRO LOG - FEBRUARY 2014

[rekindlemods]

Who: Everyone
Where: The Welcome Center
When: 18th February, evening
Summary: The new arrivals, freshly pulled from their worlds or others, awaken in a strange place...
Warnings: Inbox death may occur. System overload at own risk. SOME NPC RESPONSES WILL BE SLOW UNTIL THE ONE WHO PLAYS THEM IS PRESENT.

It's a shuddering breath, a sensation of being pulled to elsewhere and finding oneself pressed against something on the soft and some place cozy. However, before one can fully stir, there is and odd, warm stirring sensation that lifts you up from wherever you've been dropped, when you begin to drift off once more.

Yet the feeling passes quickly, and when you awaken, you begin to realize your surroundings. It's a small room with what some might recognize as a Far Eastern theme when it comes to decor, from the walls to the sofa (or bed) you find yourself on. Illumination is provided by carefully crafted lamps, and even a candle flickering on a nearby desk. The doors are made from paper and wood, with a thin frame; through them it's easy to hear other people stirring, talking, or coming to.

You are not alone...

The people who arranged this room aren't stingy with treats, either. Close by is a plate full of mostly benign chocolates...Though there isn't any milk on hand to go with them. There's also the sound of more noise from further downstairs, and even the faint whiff of something warm and tasty. And to add to all of that, close at hand there's a note that reads:

WELCOME CENTER
Newcomers: Please come downstairs to the lobby for refreshments and your welcome packets!

(PS: This includes milk.)

Odd... This wasn't written in your own language, and yet you find it easily understandable. Soon enough, if you don't enter on your own, there's a gentle knocking on the door as someone comes from downstairs to usher you along.

"Welcome to Saeng Seong! I know you must be confused as to where you are and what's going on, but we promise to explain this to you once you've had a chance to stretch your legs!"

Whether you go downstairs immediately or linger a little longer, eventually you must come down and get out of the small space, and sooner rather than later would probably be better. You'll find yourself in a well-lit lobby, filled with comfortable-looking couches and chairs. Along one wall are refreshment tables, loaded with all sorts of warming, comforting food and drink, including some you probably aren't familiar with. On the wall opposite are a pair of desks, each with a sign and a person seated behind them -

Irene, General Assistance
Devin, Technological Assistance

Unlike a few waves before, the only people in charge seem to be the people behind the desks. They look a bit busy.

However, before you can go over and give them a piece of your mind and ask questions, the same person who ushered you downstairs hands you a manilla envelope that contains your welcome packet, urging you to read this before asking the two figures questions that the packet likely answers.

Inside it, you will find: a ring with a key and apartment number on it, some kind of cash card, a map and informational guide to the city, and a letter folded neatly on the top -

Welcome to Saeng Seong!

You are among a new group of arrivals to our city, from many far-apart worlds.
We have gathered you here because our city is in a crisis, and we are at our last resorts. The energy of the city is in a slow downward spiral, and is dangerously close to expiring altogether.

That's where you come in - you and everyone else we've brought to the city. Unlike those of us here, you have the potential to generate the energy the city needs, but you'll need to work together to do it.

Why? Because the energy can only be generated when two people touch each other. Any touch will do, but it must be between two of you who are new to the city. If you don't keep in contact with someone, eventually your energy will begin to drain as well, making you dangerously ill.

A few other things:

The closed-off sections of the city are closed off for a reason; approaching them will cause your energy to drain very rapidly. We're working to open the rest of the city to you as soon as we can, but for now, please remain within the first five districts of the city.

You have been given a key to a one-bedroom apartment in a complex set aside for you and the other new arrivals, near the riverside in the 1st district. You're free to change your living quarters whenever you like, and we encourage you to move in with someone in one of the larger apartments. When you want to change, just come back to this building to exchange your key.

We've also included a cash card with a living stipend; if you're unfamiliar with this system, or the network established for new arrivals, you can talk to Devin in the lobby for help. It's what he's here for. If you need medical assistance, contact Mai, one of our nurses.

Again, welcome, and thank you for all your help.

Irene
Arrival Liaison

Outside, and through the translucent glass you can see a banner hanging from the tiled roof of the building across the street. It's looking oddly bright and cheery against a darkening sky:

WELCOME TO SAENG SEONG
(ENJOY YOUR STAY!)

Comments

[beforetights]

"Brother?"

This is the first thing that comes out of Cu Chulainn's mouth when he sees the other boy saying hello to him. Pharos looks so much like Diarmuid after a haircut that Cu Chulainn gets confused. He's ready to ask who could be so mean as to cut off all of his brother's hair when he notices several things different about Pharos.

First off, he's a bit taller than Diarmuid. Second off, his eyes are blue. And third, he doesn't have Diarmuid's birthmark.

"You don't have his spot..."

Cu Chulainn pokes at the corner of his eye to indicate his brother's beauty spot.

"I'm sorry! I guess you're a different person!"

He gives the other boy an apologetic bow.

"My name's Cu Chulainn! What's your name?"

[darkhourdear]

Well, he has a birthmark. It's just on the wrong side of his face. At least as far as the mun can tell from squinting at icons. He doesn't seem to terribly mind that he was taken for someone else, smiling slightly.

"It's alright." Though it's a new experience, certainly. "My name is Pharos."

[beforetights]

He nods quickly.

"I'm glad to meet you, Pharos! You look like my big brother Diarmuid. Have you met him yet? He's a little taller than me..."

He waves his hand in the air above his head to demonstrate.

"But he's a little shorter than you! And he's got longer hair than yours that's all fluffy. And he has a spot on the other side of his face!"

[darkhourdear]

"I think so." That was the first person he ran into, he thinks, right outside of the building he woke up in. This was his brother? "Do we really look that much alike?" He could kind of tell, but... honestly Pharos doesn't have the best idea of what he looks like anyway.

[beforetights]

He nods eagerly again. If his nodding were any quicker, then one would be able to hear his brain rattling.

"I think you look a lot alike! You've both got those pretty eyes! His are a different color, but both of you have gentle, sad eyes."

[darkhourdear]

"What do you mean?" He doesn't sound like he's objecting to the description- just curious. Pharos is very, very new to all this.

[beforetights]

"I just mean your eyes look sad! Even when you're smiling. But I know my brother and he's not sad all the time. His eyes just look special. And you're the same. Only your eyes are blue and his are gold."

He grins, content with the description that he just gave the other boy.

[darkhourdear]

The other boy is smiling. Then... that must be a good thing! Pharos smiles a little back, though a bit unsure. This is much harder than he was expecting. How do people keep talking?

"Have you been here a while?" When in doubt, ask questions.

[beforetights]

"Yes! I've been here for a few moon cycles. It's a great place, so I like living here. There's a zoo and restaurants and pet shops and everything!"

[darkhourdear]

Moon cycles. That is something Pharos can understand, at least. The rest of it... not so much. "What's a zoo?" he asks.

[beforetights]

"It's like a big home for a lot of animals! And they're all in cages so you can come in and look at them!"

[darkhourdear]

"So... it's a lot of animals in one place?" That sounds really interesting... maybe he should go and see what all these animals look like.

[beforetights]

"Exactly. Do you want me to show you how to get to the zoo? Or maybe we should go see the temple or the mall instead."

[darkhourdear]

Temple? Mall? He thinks he knows what both of those are, but... they're also tempting. Maybe he should learn up the things he knows nothing about first, so he nods. "Yes. Let's see the zoo."

[beforetights]

He reaches out to grab one of Pharos' hands so he can lead him over.

"Alright, let's go!"

[darkhourdear]

This is the second time this had happened. How weird. It must be normal, though.

Pharos secures the grip slightly, following behind the other boy. "What kind of animals are there?"

[beforetights]

"Oh, all kinds. Birds and fish and other animals that I've never seen before and don't know any names to. Maybe you'll know their names since you're older."

[darkhourdear]

"Probably not." Pharos is aware he doesn't know much about anything outside his purpose or the Dark Hour. "Are there signs or anything?" There should be signs. That would make it easier.

[beforetights]

"There are..."

He pouts and blushes slightly.

"But I don't know how to read them!"

[darkhourdear]

"Oh. Are they in a different language or can you just not read?" This isn't meant to put the other boy down... Pharos isn't 100% sure he can read, either. He's never really tried.

[beforetights]

"No, I know how to read. They just have a lot of big words and words I've never seen before."

[darkhourdear]

"Oh. I wonder if I'll be able to read them..." He suspects not, but there's only one way to find out.

[beforetights]

"I hope you will. And if you can't we can always go ask someone else."

[darkhourdear]

"I suppose so." There had to be other people around, right? There were certainly a lot of people on the street.

[beforetights]

Cu Chulainn nods firmly and keeps leading Pharos on.

"The zoo is in the fifth district, so we need to go all the way past the second district, then across the river, and then through the third district two."