INTRO LOG - JUNE 2014

[rekindlemods]

Who: Everyone
Where: The Welcome Center
When: 18th June, late 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.

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...

Close at hand there's a note that reads:

WELCOME CENTER
Newcomers: Please come downstairs to the lobby 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, 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 cool and relieving food and drink, including some you probably aren't familiar with. It's just as well they're in good supply, as the windows outside show a city well heated from a summer sun.

On the wall opposite are a pair of desks, each with a sign, and one person at her station-

Rhea, General Assistance
Andi, Technological Assistance

The plaques have a shiny new look to them, as do the desks. The one with 'Andi' listed appears to be empty, though. Gathered around both desks and several tables are boxes as well, and...Empty jars? The woman minding her desk doesn't appear to give them a second thought.

However, before you can go over and give at least one of 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 Rhea
Arrival Liaison

Outside, and through the translucent glass you can see a banner hanging from the tiled roof of the building across the street. The cheerful colors on it match well against a bright blue sky:

WELCOME TO SAENG SEONG
(ENJOY YOUR STAY!)

Comments

[nerdica]

She's not the only one aiming to take advantage of the free refreshments, although the eight foot tall robot currently reaching to the back of the table to scoop up the glowing liquid doesn't seem like the sort of individual who'd need food to survive.

But her attention is caught by the organic nearby, optics narrowing before she finally voices her curiosity. "You're different than the other organics around. Not," she continues, not realizing the possible offensiveness of her statement "that you should be, I just haven't met a lot of organics. Or any, really."

Which means you are the first! That should be exciting, right? Nautica thinks it's exciting.

[healsformeals]

At first impression, Kha'li takes note of two things. One, the person speaking to her is armored - oddly so - and briefly she wonders if she isn't standing beside a Garlean officer. And two, this person is even taller than Arenlona or Sidonia.

Thal's balls.

"Organics?" The tiny Lalafell, barely below three feet tall, cranes her head back to look up at her new conversation companion. "I am a Lalafell. I'm not an Organic." Whatever that is. She has no idea.

[nerdica]

"You're not?" A curious tone to her voice as she abandons the food and drink to turn her full attention on the other. "I'm sorry, it's just you look like it. Well, I've never actually seen an organic but I've read about them!"

It will eventually occur to Nautica that somewhere along the line they've gotten the wrong impression about each other. But that time isn't right now.

"Humans mostly, but the universe is primarily an organic one, and mechanical lifeforms like myself are the odd ones out."

[healsformeals]

... oh. Oh. Well, luckily for Nautica, Kha'li is sort of understanding now that the difference is made between mechanical and non. So this person is entirely mechanical? Like the Magitek armor, but sentient to the point of speaking...?

"Oh! Well, I am flesh and blood, but..." She pauses to consider things. "You aren't... Garlean, are you? I've not met anything mechanical like this save for what I've seen in the Garlean forces."

[nerdica]

"Garlean?" A shake of her head. "No, I'm Cybertronian. Not forged on the planet, but Cybertronian all the same."

She remembers Windblade's hopes that they could have gotten help from their 'brothers', that they'd have a happy reunion. Not the case. Well Nautica couldn't blame her leader for getting her hopes up - it was Windblade did.

[healsformeals]

Cybertronian... Well, whatever it is, it certainly isn't Garlean. And Kha'li isn't picking up any sense of threat - this machine even acts friendly. Not that she's ever met a sentient machine before. Maybe all machines are like this?

"I see." She tilts her head just a tiny amount, then smiles and curtsies. "My name is Kha'li. It's a pleasure to meet you."

[nerdica]

A nod and a grin in return. "Nautica, from Nautical." She makes a face at her former name, but continues on undaunted. "I didn't like the way it sounded, so I dropped the 'l' but kept the root. There's got to be something in my name to indicate the fact I turn into a sub."

Oh, right. "It's a pleasure to met you too, Kha'li."

[healsformeals]

Well, the 'nautical' part, she can at least make heads or tails of. Though she isn't sure what a 'sub' is, but it likely has something to do with the sea if the connection there is any indication. Still, Kha'li smiles. "Nothing wrong with changing your name if it doesn't suit your tastes! It makes perfect sense to me."

After all, she'd done it herself. Kakari Lakari did not sound very adventuresome at all.

[nerdica]

Nautica beams at that, because it's the first time someone hadn't simply written it off as Nautica being Nautica. Well she supposed that's what one got when they hung around Chromia, but still.

"Exactly! I'm glad you agree - and sometimes it feels like everyone's already grabbed all the good names so you've just got to tweak it to make it feel right."