INTRO LOG - JULY 2013

[rekindlemods]

Who: Everyone Where: The Welcome Plaza When: 18th July, afternoon Summary: The new arrivals, freshly pulled from their worlds or others, awaken in a strange plaza... Warnings: Inbox death may occur. System overload at own risk. SOME NPC RESPONSES WILL BE SLOW UNTIL THE ONE WHO PLAYS THEM IS PRESENT. The first flickering of a lantern... It's a shuddering breath, a sensation of being pulled to elsewhere and finding oneself pressed against something rather hard with the sound of water coming from nearby. However, before one can fully stir, there is something that lifts you up from the rather warm (yet why did it feel like a chill going down your spine?) stone when you begin to drift off once more. It felt as though someone had thrown you from the frying pan, and then into the freezer - all you wanted to do was sleep... Yet the feeling passes quickly, and when you awaken, you begin to realize your surroundings. It looks like...a plaza of some sort? As they look around them, the ground beneath them is an intricate mosiac - a water fountain at the center of the plaza in this foreign world. There are many buildings around its perimeter, making this location seem like a central hub of whatever town this was. Some may even recognize the peculiar design of the buildings and sloped tiled rooftops as a Far Eastern theme. Were they somewhere along the Pacific? Who knows! But what is quite apparent is this: Along with the many buildings surrounding the plaza, the first thing that is noticeable is the amount of people sitting or standing around you in a similar daze. You are not alone... One building seems to stand out among all the others; one that seems large enough to house all of the completely lost and confused masses gathered here to the welcome plaza. A sign outside the door reads: WELCOME CENTER Newcomers: Please come inside for refreshments and your welcome packets! 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, someone comes from inside the double doors to usher you and everyone else inside. "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 we're inside and away from the hot sun!" Whether you go inside immediately or linger outside a little longer, eventually you must come in from the hot summer day, 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 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 However, before you can go over and give them a piece of their mind and ask for questions, the same person who ushered you inside hands you a manilla envelope that contains your welcome packet, urging you to read this before asking the three 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 two central 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 - she'll be going around today for anyone who needs help. Again, welcome, and thank you for all your help. Irene Arrival Liaison Back behind you, others still linger, and through the translucent glass you can see a banner hanging from the tiled roof of the building across the street in the blistering summer day: WELCOME TO SAENG SEONG (ENJOY YOUR STAY!)

Comments

[smallspot]

"No, I wouldn't know. I don't know what roller coasters or claw machines are. If you say they are fun, I will believe you!" After all, Zack seems nice and has talked to him about all kinds of things. Why would he lie?

"I am sorry you didn't get to have a lot of fun on your world. We have a lot of time here, so you should be able to have all the fun you want! They give us a place to live and money here," the boy digs into a pouch he has at his waist and pulls out a card and a key. "Here is the key to my room and here is the card with my money on it. It isn't a lot, but I don't need a lot because I am little!"

[soldiernoclass]

In this case, it's a fair assessment, but if Zack knew that was all it took to earn his confidence, he'd be a lot more concerned. Even he knows there's such a thing as being too nice for one's own good. (He doesn't always heed the knowledge, but it's there. Somewhere.)

He may also be beginning to suspect there's such a thing as being too cute, but that's a less serious assessment. He can't really help the impulse to reach over and muss up poor Diarmuid's hair any more than he can hold back the grin that accompanies the gesture. "If you say so, I'll believe you! ...But I'd keep those things close, if you don't want to lose them. The city out there's pretty big, isn't it?"

[smallspot]

Far from being upset by the hair mussing, Diarmuid actually seems to enjoy it, pushing his head up into Zack's hand rather like a cat might, "Don't worry! I will take good care of them. That is why I got the pouch. So I don't forget or lose them!"

He pauses to put the card and the key back into his pouch before looking at Zack again, "The city is big! We can only go into parts of it right now. Other places make you sick if you go into them. One day I adventured all the way over to the Third District all by myself. It took me most of the day, but I walk slow. My legs are little!" It's probably the most unnecessary gesture ever, but Diarmuid points down at his legs, "Little legs take little steps!"

[soldiernoclass]

"I see what you mean," Zack says, nodding as he puts a hand to his chin - as if Diarmuid's assessment is somehow news to him. The kid's been more helpful than he probably knows, so the least Zack can do is take his very informative brand of wisdom seriously.

"Well, whenever you're worried about getting around faster, just give me a call, okay? I owe you a lift, at the very least."

[smallspot]

"Thank you! I will!" Diarmuid bows to Zack, "My room is 2-17 in Building 1 if you want to visit me. I'm not always there because sometimes I stay with other people. I'm still learning how everything works. And I'm still a little knight... I still get scared sometimes." He looks a little shy for a moment, but then smiles at Zack.

"Now that you have gotten a hug and some food, I should let you go explore! Have a good adventure. Will you come tell me about it someday? I would like to hear about the things you find!"

[soldiernoclass]

"Two seventeen? Okay, I'll remember that." He nods, adding in a thumbs up just for posterity. He'll have to go check up on Diarmuid, later, of course - but maybe only partially out of obligation. That cheerful attitude is a more than welcome change from the gloomy outlook his last months of living had cast over the world.

"And I'll tell you all about whatever I find around here, when I see you again, for sure. ...Unless I don't find anything good - then I'll just make something up."

[smallspot]

Diarmuid giggles, "It's okay if you make up stuff. Father does that too sometimes. He won't admit it, but I can tell when he is making a story different to prove a point or just because he feels like it." When one has heard a certain story a lot one way and then it suddenly changes, the 'dramatic exaggeration' is pretty obvious.

"Be safe! I hope to see you soon!" The boy waves at Zack and then runs off into the crowd.