January Intro Log

[rekindlemods]

Who: Everyone
Where: The Welcome Center
When: 12th December, early afternoon
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. NPC responses may be slow.

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.

'I'm sorry for this... but we need your help.'

Yet the feeling -and the voice - pass quickly, and when you awaken, you begin to realize your surroundings. It's a small room with what some might recognize as something akin to 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 red 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...

On a small table beside you, there rests a note atop a manilla envelope (that oddly enough is enscribed with your name). Unfolding the note will reveal some answers in the form of a letter addressed to all arrivals.

Inside the manilla envelope , 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 second letter folded neatly on the top.

Odd... Neither were written in your own language, and yet you find it easily understandable. Soon enough, if you don't make an exit 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 or upset as to what's going on, but we promise to explain further once you've had a chance to stretch your legs!"

Whether you go downstairs immediately or linger a little longer, eventually you must come on down to leave 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 warm and filling food and drink, including some you probably aren't familiar with. It's just as well they're in good supply, as rain is pouring outside with no sign of relenting. During this time of the year, it's definitely something to leave a chill in the bones. Perhaps picking up a rain coat by the desks on the other side of the room might be a good idea. Who knows? You may just find something suspiciously in your size!

Speaking of those desks, two ladies seem eager to answer any questions you may have, names and positions conveniently written on signs on their desk.

Irene, General Assistance
Andi, Technological Assistance

Outside, and through the heavy rain and translucent glass you can see a banner hanging from the tiled roof of the building across the street. The deep autumnal colors on it match the welcoming (though rather damp) atmosphere as the letters proclaim:

WELCOME TO SAENG SEONG
(ENJOY YOUR STAY!)

Comments

[tadashiishere]

(A)

The lamps are lit, and the candle, but nothing in the room stirs. Nothing that is, until someone comes to check on what's keeping the room's occupant and finds... no one. There's no one on the bed, nor does there seem to be anyone in the room at all. Just some sort of red and purple case made of metal and plastic on the floor next to the bed. Someone's luggage maybe? But there doesn't seem to be anyone around to claim it.

Maybe there's been some sort of mistake?

(B)

Baymax stood exactly where he had been left by the man who'd handed him the 'Welcome Packet', observing the room. There were a number of people here, but none of them looked familiar. In fact, a number of them didn't even look human. He thought at first that they may just be wearing costumes, like Fred, but scanning one of them as they passed by proved this to be incorrect. Very strange. He'd have to set up a number of additional medical databases by the looks of things, if he was going to be able to offer them proper medical treatment.

Also unusual were the other robots. He could see a number of them, all larger than even his armored form, all giving off highly unusual power readings. And some of them were exhibiting highly unusual, even erratic behavior. Perhaps they were glitched? He would have to ask later.

Eventually, he realized he was becoming a rather inconvenient obstacle standing near the base of the stairs leading up to the rooms where he had arrived, and toddled forward into the room proper, finding a convenient spot along one wall where he wouldn't be in anyone's way. There, he opened the envelope and began to read over the provided information.

(A)

[smallspot]

Diarmuid doesn't usually come up into this part of the Welcome Center when he comes in to meet new arrivals, but when he arrived, this part wasn't open and he is curious. Add in the fact that there aren't many people around and he figures it is a good time to go check things out.

At first he thinks the room is empty, but after a moment, he spots the case next to the bed. He walks over to it and gives it a curious look. Did someone leave it behind? Maybe he should take it down to the desks where Irene and the others are. They will know what to do with it...

The boy wraps his hands around what looks to be the handle and then tries to pick it up...only the case doesn't move. Wow...it is pretty heavy. What is in it?

Was hoping someone would do option A. XD

[tadashiishere]

There is no response from the case at Diarmuid's attempt to lift it. It wouldn't be especially heavy to an adult, but to a boy Diarmuid's age? Yep, moving it won't be easy. It might be possible for him to drag it along, though. Course there might also be a way to open it; that little symbol on the front kind of looks like it could be a latch... Hmmm...

It is too good to miss! :-)

[smallspot]

Diarmuid tries once more to lift the case, but he knows it's a futile effort. So what can he do now? If he drags it, as heavy as it is, he might damage the floor. It's too bad it doesn't have wheels! Well...maybe it does and they are hidden?

The boy starts looking for a button or something that might release wheels. While he is doing so, he ends up pressing on and pushing at that latch. Maybe it is just a weirdly shaped button?

I figured there had to be a way to activate him that didn't involve hurting yourself. XD

[tadashiishere]

Pressing at the latch proves Diarmuid's hunch about it being a button right. When it's pressed a certain way, the ring around it lights up and a soft electronic chime sounds. Then the case unfolds itself and what was inside emerges and expands like a genie coming out of a lamp. In fact it expands a lot. Better move back a bit, if you don't want to get knocked on your butt, Diramuid.

Considering what he is, there has to be or else it would be really strange...

[smallspot]

As soon as the case lights up and starts moving, Diarmuid does jump back with his eyes wide. Part of him is a little afraid--he didn't break it, did he?--but the other part is excited. Just what is it?

Somehow, his eyes get even bigger as he watches the case expand. Will it ever stop? And what is with all the marshmallow fluff?

[dragoncrest]

One of the non-humans Baymax likely scanned in the room--a relatively tall rat-woman, wearing a red leather jacket and hat--approached the robot after a few moments of examining him, unsure of what kind of creature or construct he might have been. Another reason she decided to wait before greeting him was to make certain he had some time to absorb the information in the letter.

Freya had to admit her curiosity was a large part of why she came to speak with him, in addition to wanting to help.

"Hello," she said politely. "You seem to be taking your arrival quite well. Most of those I've met are very confused or upset when they wake up."

[tadashiishere]

Baymax looked up as one of the non-human people approached him. Indeed, he had scanned her, concluding her to be some sort of large, humanoid rat. Very strange.

"Hello," he greeted her with a small wave. "I am Baymax, your personal healthcare companion."

"And I cannot be upset," he explained. "I am a robot. Though I do have some questions. The letters were informative, but the situation is still highly unusual."

[dragoncrest]

"It is good to meet you, Baymax," she replied, though she was intrigued, if a little bemused by his response. "I don't believe I am in need of medical help, but I will keep that in mind."

Given she was only familiar with robots who have plenty of emotion, this one certainly struck her as strange. He did seem to be pleasant and calm, however, which was a definite bonus.

"What is it you'd like to ask? I have been here some time, so I may be able to answer."

[tadashiishere]

Baymax nodded. "I am afraid that the help I could offer you is limited at the moment," he said. "I am unfamiliar with your species and would require additional data to establish a baseline in order to provide proper treatment. Is there any additional medical data on your species available here?"

"As for questions relevant to the letters," he said, "what sort of 'energy crisis' is being referred to? And in what way is it connected to the health of the people here? I am not aware of any power source that could function as described."

[dragoncrest]

"I'm not certain..." she says, tilting her head and putting a hand to her chin as her ribboned tail waves behind her. "The leaders of this city have gathered information on us, so you may find something at the hospital, but I could not guarantee it."

... in any case, she is often able to heal herself, so it's not an important enough point for her to continue pursuing. She's here to help, after all, not to be helped.

"I admit I do not know how it works, but the miasma that was released a century ago is apparently what has caused the problems here. It has drained the life energy of the people as well as the energy which powers their city, and by maintaining physical contact with each other, we are granting them what they need to push away the force that has crippled them, and what they need to rebuild."

[symbolofstrength]

From across the room, there's a short, stocky, middle-aged man in a labcoat looking at the robot curiously. Sam watches it for a moment or two, before turning to pick up a brownie off the refreshment table (using a napkin, no germs here). He approaches it, brownie in hand.

"Hey there." Sam makes his presence known, and holds up the brownie in offering. With his free hand, he waves. He's not sure exactly what this thing is, but that's no reason not to be friendly.

[tadashiishere]

Said 'thing' looks up as he's addressed, and turns to face the man in the ab coat, returning the wave with a little one of his own. "Hello," he said. "I am Baymax, your personal healthcare companion."

His gaze then shifts slightly to the brownie. "Your thoughtfulness is appreciated, but I cannot consume human food." As should be evidenced by the fact that he has no mouth.

[symbolofstrength]

One would normally think so, but there are plenty of Pokemon that eat pretty well without an apparent mouth. And that's what Baymax reminded Sam of -- a Pokemon. Specifically, from his size, shape, and color, he looks a bit like a Snorlax.

"Oh? Alright. Sorry about that." He lowers the brownie, then looks up at Baymax curiously again. "What does a personal healthcare companion do?"

Baymax would make the best Pokemon, srsly. XD

[tadashiishere]

"Tadashi Hamada programmed me to heal the sick and injured," Baymax explained. "I have been programmed with over 10,000 medical procedures, and can lift up to 1,000 pounds." Not that he's bragging, or anything.

"What is your name?", Baymax asks. Because introductions are clearly in order on both sides. At least he thinks so.

[symbolofstrength]

At that size, Sam can believe that and more. When he's asked his name, he sheepishly rubs at the back of his head. Ah, so that's what he was forgetting.

"Professor Samuel Oak." Here's where a normal person might ask his area of study, though whether Baymax is interested in that remains to be seen. "I study creatures called Pokemon. Have you ever heard of them?"

B

[shadowsgambit]

Fortuna always came to the welcome center, even with who knows what risks that entailed. Maybe someone she recognized would appear one day.

But not this time, it seemed. Instead, the only new face she could pick out belonged to...to...what was that thing? Those looked like cameras where its eyes should be, so, a robot?

"Uh...can't say I've ever seen a robot that looks so soft."

[tadashiishere]

Baymax looked up as the woman addressed him. She was one of the more humanoid of the non-humans he'd seen around here, the only really unusual thing being the horns. He casually scaned her into his medical database as he responded to her comment.

"Tadashi wanted me to have a non-threatening, huggable design," he explained. "He believed that it would be helpful in my function."

infodump for his scans, sorry for the tl;dr!

[shadowsgambit]

His scans would find this woman was certainly more unusual than her horns. While recognizably human enough to have compatible blood (AB-), his scans would reveal her skin was thicker than a normal human with calcium deposits scattered throughout just under it, her height-to-weight ratio was nothing like she looked (weight being about 410 pounds at approximately eight feet; bone density seemed to account for most of the extra weight), and perhaps strangest of all was that part of her skull, at the back, had been replaced with high-strength plastic-based prosthetic plates - and the skull's integrity was not at all compromised; it was perfectly fused to the surrounding bone like it belonged. This prosthesis was to make way for a metal implant behind her ear which appeared to be a data port, wired directly into her brain.

She was completely unaware of the scan, of course, as she looked Baymax over again.

"Makes you look like a marshmallow," she commented jokingly. "So this Tadashi guy, what'd he build you for then?"

LOL sokay. X3 Though Baymax being Baymax, he's def gonna comment on it. XD

[tadashiishere]

Now these scans were definitely interesting. Human enough to have a recognizable blood type, unlike the other non-human's he'd scanned, but with many other, less obvious physical differences. Not to mention the unusual prosthesis.

Still, she had asked him a question, so he replied before commenting on her scan data. "I am Baymax, your personal healthcare companion," he said. "Tadashi programmed me to heal the sick and injured. I have been programmed with over 10,000 medical procedures."

"Your scan data is highly unusual," he said, introduction now out of the way. "Unlike the other non-humans I've scanned since my arrival, you have a recognizable human blood type. But your bone density is much greater, among other physical differences. I am also curious as to the nature of your unusual prosthesis; I have never seen an organic being with an implanted dataport."

It wouldn't be good RPing at all if I didn't think he might!

[shadowsgambit]

Her personal healthcare companion? Probably not - sounds like a bot like this should be mass-produced. What a nice world, or just a nice creator..

"Wait a minute, you got all that just by looking at me?"

[pizzaninja]

Michelangelo had decided to check back at the Welcome Center. He figured he might as well make a habit out of it, just in case more of his family arrived. Or Enemies. He saw various folks with the same expressions he remembered that he himself had when he came here. However, the one that really caught his eye was the large...white robot? Or was it a walking balloon or pillow?

Whatever it was, it was standing off to the side, reading the contents of an envelope. It must be the same information Mikey had himself received when he had arrived here.

Unable to quell his curiousity, the ninja turtle made his way over to the balloon guy.

"Hey!" he greeted with a grin, hoping that it was friendly. "Nice to meetcha!"

[tadashiishere]

Baymax looked up as he was addressed, coming face to face with a bipedal turtle. Interesting. Unlike most of the non-humans he'd seen here, this one seemed to be perfectly comfortable with near nudity, despite the chilly weather outside. Odd; one would expect the opposite to be true, given his apparently reptilian nature.

Baymax scanned the ninja turtle into his database even as he gave a little wave. "Hello,"he said. "I am Baymax, your personal healthcare companion. It is nice to meet you too. What is your name?"

[pizzaninja]

Mikey blinked, impressed, studying the newcomer with open interest. "I'm Michelangelo! You can call me Mikey." He tilted his head. "So...you're a robot? I've never seen one like you before..."

He smirked. "Have you met my brother Donatello? He'd totally geek out."

[tadashiishere]

"Yes," Baymax replied simply to the question of whether he was a robot. "I was built by Tadashi Hamada at San Fransokyo Technical Institute. Then rebuilt by his brother, Hiro Hamada, after my original body was lost. Tadashi programmed me to heal the sick and injured."

"I have not met anyone by that name," Baymax said. "Is he also a bipedal turtle?" Because if he is, Baymax should totally scan him, so as to get a broader baseline for mutant turtle health.