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Rekindle Moderators ([personal profile] rekindlemods) wrote in [community profile] rekindleme2014-09-15 05:13 pm

Intro Log - September 2014

Who: Everyone
Where: The Welcome Center
When: 15th September, 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.

'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 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...

On a small table beside you, there rests a note atop a manilla envelope. Unfolding the note will reveal some answers in the form of a letter addressed to all arrivals.

Welcome to Saeng Seong (it's pronounced sang see-oung if the name seems really strange)!

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. Though with the help of other new arrivals like yourself, the situation is beginning to seem less dim. If you are wondering how this is, allow me to explain.

One hundred years ago, there was a terrible incident known as the Unleashing; an event that sent our world into what would have been a slow and painful end were it not for the quick response of a few. However in the process, our own energies have been left to maintain what is causing this energy crisis. We do not have enough to push back this plague on our own.

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 Andi in the lobby for help. It's what she's here for. If you need medical assistance, contact Mai, one of our doctors.

Again, welcome, and thank you for all your help. Please come downstairs to the lobby for refreshments. If you have any questions, there will be others downstairs to assist you.

Irene
Arrival Liaison


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--

Honoured Guest,

First of all, I would like to second my colleague's welcome to our city with my own. Many have come to this world whether by choice or by our actions, and for my own involvement I humbly ask your forgiveness for potentially pulling you from your homes and loved ones. However, it is as Irene's letter states. We are in an energy crisis, and only you and your fellow new arrivals can aide us.

One hundred one years have passed since the event known as the Unleashing tore a rift in our world with Saeng Seong at its core. Ever since, we have had no word from the outside... until recently.

During the celebration of the autumnal festival last year, we were visited by spirits who perished in the Unleashing and demons. This was to be expected as in our world, the boundaries betwixt the living world and the spiritual wane towards the final day of the festival. However, the events to follow were not. As winter and the very rare snowfalls began, so too did snowmen come alive as bid by a dark magic. Some mages who align themselves with a faction named Rangar saw fit to seize the opportunity for mayhem, and the city suffered for it. However, in this and the following hackings into our citywide network, we have come to learn that there are still others who live outside the walls. Yet they too cannot sustain the energy levels needed to close this rift once and for all.

New friend, I cannot understate our need nor the truth in Irene's letter to you, but there are some in this city you should not trust. Who you do or do not trust is up to your own judgment (even mine is albeit clouded at times), yet I urge you caution. Every side has their own agenda, and even our different factions may be splintered into different parties like the individuals that make them. Though should you ever find need to seek solace or sanctuary, the temple doors are always open.

Rhea,
High Priestess to the Four
Arrival Liason


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 ourselves 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 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 semi-new look to them, as do the desks. Both lovely ladies seem eager to assist you, though one more.... self-contained than the one bouncing in their seat with anticipation.

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!)
purple_chelonian: Donnie happy (happy)

[personal profile] purple_chelonian 2014-09-16 12:47 am (UTC)(link)
Donatello thumps Raphael on the back, returning the hug in a completely uncharacteristic display of physical affection.

"Well, it's a long story!" he says, holding back almost manic laughter. "Maybe you've heard it! I woke up in a room with a manila envelope and a candle and now I'm trapped in a city where I'll get sick if I don't touch people."

He's afraid if he lets go of Raph the other turtle will disappear somehow. Donatello has made new friends here. (He doesn't think he's ever even had this many friends all in one place before.) But none of them were his brothers.

"Man, having you here is gonna be . . . well, better than not having you here. I know this seems like it sucks, but there is a bright side. We can go out in broad daylight if we want. And wave at people we pass in the street and buy stuff with money. I'm thinking of starting a business!"

His voice lowers and his face drops as he asks the question that's been in the back of his mind. "Mikey and Leo aren't with you, are they?"
sai2yourface: ([2003] Grinning)

[personal profile] sai2yourface 2014-09-16 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
To Raph, it hadn't been that long since he had last seen Donatello or the others - so this show of affection was surprising from Don. But considering he had thought he was alone in this place, the surly turtle didn't mind it for once. He just continued to hug back as if he was afraid his brother was going to leave any moment. It was relief, pure and simple, that he had some family here.

"Woah bro!" He laughed. It wasn't often that one saw Raphael this openly happy. But considering the circumstances, he couldn't help it. "It's like ya hadn't seen me in years!" He gave his brother a reassuring squeeze, leaving an arm around Don's shoulders. He wasn't going anywhere. "Yeah I got that envelop too." He gestured at it sitting on the nearby table. "So it's all true? All that crazy stuff about touchin' other people? I figured that the whole thing was some sorta joke! I was gonna find whoever was in charge and introduce them to my fists or somethin' before making them send me back."

The idea that they'd be able to walk around freely in broad daylight and be treated like anyone else was definitely appealing - and to Raphael, a little hard to believe. But Donatello wouldn't make something like that up. A business?!

"No." Raphael said quieter, smile lessening. "I didn't see'em. I was gonna ask ya the same thing."
purple_chelonian: Donnie happy (happy)

[personal profile] purple_chelonian 2014-09-17 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
"Not quite! I haven't seen you in a month, but that's long enough." Donatello relaxes into his brother's familiar touch, leaning against Raph and returning the gesture of putting an arm around his shoulder. "It's true as near as I can tell. I've seen someone get sick from not touching. Oh, speaking of which, we aren't even the only non-humans here. There's an entire community of mechanoid aliens." He lowers his voice. "As far as going ninja on the folks in charge, we're on the same page, bro. I've met some folks and I've been asking questions."

He shakes his head. "I can imagine Leo hiding himself away so well that he wouldn't reveal himself even to us, but Mikey would be hard to miss. I don't think they're here."
sai2yourface: ([2003] Confused)

[personal profile] sai2yourface 2014-09-17 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
Wow so his brother hadn't seen him in a month?? Raphael couldn't even begin to wrap his mind around possible 'how's' and 'why's' - so he didn't bother.

"Well I'm here now. Not goin' anywhere." He stated. He was about to say something else but something Don said made him glance at his brother incredulously. "Say what? Mechawhatsit aliens? What's that in English?" He half teased with a grin. The fact there was possibly non-human's and aliens here didn't bother him too much, considering his own genetics. Besides, he supposed it was similar to when they got zapped to D'Hoonib that time.

At the mention of going ninja on the folks in charge, an intrigued gleam shone in Raphael's eye. Something almost predatory and he too, lowered his voice. "Ya have huh? Good. I've been lookin' forward to a good ol' fashioned brawlfest." It's been a while in his opinion. It was too bad his buddy Casey wasn't here to join in either.

The fact that Leo and Mikey weren't there was a dampener on the situation, but all in all, he was glad to see Don and have some family around. He could tell that his brother felt the same. He moved away enough to nudge Donatello towards one of the couches, grabbing his envelope and plate of food and glass of water he was working on before joining him at his side.

"So what's this business ya said you were workin' on?" He asked curiously.
Edited 2014-09-17 03:45 (UTC)
purple_chelonian: (embarassed)

[personal profile] purple_chelonian 2014-09-17 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"Eheh, they're pretty much robots, but one of them got offended when I called him that, so I've been trying not to refer to them that way. They call themselves Cybertronians." He's not even going to subject you to the bit about how it's probably because it's because 'robot' comes from the Latin for 'to work' implying they're mindless drones. Because he loves you.

"I'm thinking less brawl, more infiltration. Like the time we broke into the TCRI building. Actually, have you done that yet? What was the last weird mess we got ourselves into? We might be from different points on the timeline."

Donatello follows Raph over to the couch, making a plate of food of his own, but not getting anything to drink. He eyes Raph's plate as he sits. "Pretty confident the food isn't poisoned, by the way. Haven't tested the water yet, though." He waits until his brother is taking a drink to say anything to tell this particular white lie. He couldn't resist.
sai2yourface: ([2003] Mouthing off)

[personal profile] sai2yourface 2014-09-19 09:36 pm (UTC)(link)
"Less brawl more infiltration? What's the fun in that?" Raphael joked. He shrugged a little at the question - a little weirded out that they could possibly be from different timelines. "Yeah we did that." He said at the mention of sneaking into the TCRI building. Man that had been a trip. "Uh....we fought in the Nexus Tournament." He supplied. "That's the last craziest thing we did at least." He was still a bit sore that Mikey won that.

Raphael sipped at his water, and coughed, almost spitting it out again at Donatello's words - shooting his brother a glare. "Oh Ha Ha Don." He huffed a sigh. "Ya think they'd go through all this trouble to drag a bunch of people from other universes to help them with this power crisis and then kill us all over sandwiches?" He rolled his eyes, biting into one. "Besides, I saw some people munching on stuff earlier and they weren't dyin'."
purple_chelonian: Donnie thinking (Default)

[personal profile] purple_chelonian 2014-09-20 02:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"It might be less fun, but it would be safer until the part where we inevitably get caught and have to kick shell." Leonardo isn't here, so Don has to speak up and be the voice of reason. Sorry, Raph!

"Oh, man, we just competed in the Battle Nexus? You're from way back! So we haven't even . . ." Donatello trails off. Spoiling the future is probably a bad idea. But there's one thing he definitely doesn't mind trying to change. "Listen, if at some point I get a cold that won't go away, it's not just a cold. Make sure I work together with, um, any scientifically-inclined friends we might have to look into it." Because not turning into a monster and setting off a chain of events that releases the Tengu Shredder would be pretty nice.

He laughs. "Sorry, the temptation was too much. I've checked the water, it ought to be fine." The laugh turns into an eyeroll as Raph pipes up again. "Argh, you sound just like Yamamoto! You're a ninja, Raph, you should know better. Poison isn't just for killing people, and it's not just for killing people quickly."
sai2yourface: ([2003] Whateva)

[personal profile] sai2yourface 2014-09-21 04:57 am (UTC)(link)
Raph made a 'pfft' noise. "Kicking shell is the best part in my opinion." He smirked, cracking his knuckles for emphasis.

He definitely was weirded out now about this timeline thing. By the sounds of it, Donatello was from his future. Ugh - the idea made his head hurt. "Don't even tell me Don..." He waved a hand when the other turtle's phrase trailed off. "You'll ruin the surprise." He joked weakly, not wanting to show how strange the idea was to him. He was a little confused at the request but he nodded.

Raph laughed at the whole poison thing. "Well you said yourself you tested it and it was fine right? I'll live." He took another chomp out of his sandwich, washing it down with water. "I still don't think they'd bother poisonin' it after this 'mighty need' they have for everyone bein' here." He gestured at the envelope. "They sounded pretty desperate and stuff." He glanced over at his brother.

"Have you learned anything new about all this stuff mentioned in the letters? Ya know...anything they happened to not mention?"
purple_chelonian: Donnie thinking (Default)

[personal profile] purple_chelonian 2014-09-21 05:39 pm (UTC)(link)
"Right, just like how the Shredder sounded pretty on the level to Leo when he gave him that sword."

Donatello scans the room, though not so obviously that anyone would notice him doing it (being a ninja has its benefits) before leaning in and lowering his voice. "Actually, yes. I met a girl named Kit who knows more about what's going on. Apparently someone named Zeloph, who belongs to an opposition group, posted on the local internet a while ago, claiming that the problem with the city started 100 years ago when some sort of 'miasma' got released. And all the cuddling we're supposed to be doing just staves off the problem, but doesn't really fix anything. The natives don't age, but they're all slowly dying." He pauses to eat a pastry.

"This is all stuff I heard secondhand, mind you. So anyway, this Zeloph guy is supposed to be leader of the Ragnar, a group of people who live outside the city walls and have magic that absorbs the miasma rather than repels it. They were the oppressed underclass or something before the Fire Nation attacked 'the Unleashing.' So now we've got this thinly disguised dystopian horror show, where the scientists involved in pulling people here are holed up in a secret underground facility. However," sip of water, "Kit said she'd introduce me to another inmate here named James who knows the way in and is planning to infiltrate the place."

"It gets better, though. Zeloph is Rhea's brother." He nods and jerks a thumb across the lobby to the priestess at her desk. "Rhea helps them bring new people here, but Kit seems to trust her. And she's a bright kid, but still just a kid." So Donatello is not just going to take her word for it, no offense. "Also, they used to use the 'hug energy' or whatever you want to call it to open new parts of the city, but they haven't for a while. I think that's about everything that isn't wild speculation on my part."
sai2yourface: ([2003] Confused)

[personal profile] sai2yourface 2014-09-25 01:08 am (UTC)(link)
At the comment about the Shredder, Raphael didn't offer any comment but he did exaggeratedly roll his eyes before smirking slightly.

When Donatello leaned in, Raphael shifted closer and listened with a keen expression - in his case, frowning slightly. This was...a lot more than he was expecting for an answer and it was a lot to absorb. The letter had touched on some things - like some sort of event that had happened, and that keeping in physical contact was key to helping with this 'power problem'. However all this stuff about a resistance group and this Zeloph guy was new. Raphael finished his food while Donatello was talking and when his brother finished he crossed his arms.

"So lemme get this straight. This Zeloph guy is the leader of some resistance group who happen to be a race of people that use magic mumbo jumbo stuff to beat this miasma thing? And that girl is his sister?" He glanced at the one identified as Rhea at her desk. "Why the heck don't she do nothin'? Like...why is the city so intent on keepin' these people out when they obviously can beat this thing?" He shrugged, incredulous.

"As far as this infiltration thing goes though I am so in." He grinned again. "Sounds like fun."
Edited 2014-09-25 01:09 (UTC)
purple_chelonian: Donnie worried (worried)

[personal profile] purple_chelonian 2014-09-25 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't think I'm explaining it as well as Kit did. They're not beating the miasma, they're just enduring it by absorbing it into themselves rather than erecting barriers to keep it out. Which is apparently taboo. Again, this is all second or third-hand knowledge." Donatello shrugs. "I don't know why they don't cooperate. If I had to guess, I'd say bad blood going way back. You're figure with their world on the line, they'd bury the hatchet."

He returns his brother's grin, showing his teeth as he pounds a fist into his open palm. "Yeah, it does. I'm already working on getting my duffel stocked." Don's smile falters as continues. "Though, honestly, the kinds of things I've been able to scavenge and buy around here worry me. The tech level is pretty far above what I'm used to. It might even be comparable to the Utroms or the Federation and Triceratons. And if this is the stuff that's freely available, I don't even want to know what they've got in their secret underground lair."
sai2yourface: ([2003] Wait wut?)

[personal profile] sai2yourface 2014-09-28 05:12 am (UTC)(link)
"Doesn't sound too different from home." Raphael refrained from rolling his eyes but he uttered a 'tch' sort of noise. It sounded like a bunch of politics to him. And people being stupid in the face of the demise of their own world.

"Well, I got my weapons and my fists so I'm all ready to go." He eyed Donatello's duffel bag. Who knew what his brother was cooking up to put in there? "Really? I woulda thought that you'd be all excited with all the fancy techno stuff." If the level of technology here was going so far as to make his brother worried - that was saying something.

"Huh..." He muttered. Don had a point. The whole 'secret lab' thing was disturbing. He remembered that time they had gone underground and found an abandoned genetics lab that had been run by the Foot - and the monsters they had created from unwilling subjects. "Well we've been through a buncha crazy stuff before. I'm sure we got this." He encouraged.

"So ya got a place here? They gave me keys for an apartment somewhere."
purple_chelonian: Donnie thinking (Default)

[personal profile] purple_chelonian 2014-09-28 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"The 'fancy techno stuff' is exciting when I have it or someone I trust has it. When a a mysterious society that thinks kidnapping kids to save their own shells has it, then I start to worry about what else they can do with it."

Donatello's frown fades away into a smile as Raphael insists that they'll be okay. "Yeah, definitely! With the f-" Shell. "I mean, with the two of us, plus our new friends here, we can handle anything that comes our way."

"Oh, yeah, they assigned me an apartment. I can make room for you, too, if you want. I need to organize my lab space better, anyway."
sai2yourface: ([2003] Laughter)

[personal profile] sai2yourface 2014-10-01 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
"Huh ya have a point." Raphael muttered. The fact that these weirdo's who couldn't even get over their differences to save their world, used their technology to yank people from their own worlds to do it kinda didn't sit well with him.

"What? You've had your own place for a month and you haven't blown it up yet?" He teased with a short bark of a laugh. He reached over to the envelop and tugged out the apartment key he was given. "Hm building 2 on the second floor. Apartment 8." He muttered. "Are you anywhere near there?" He was tempted to take Don up on his offer though. Yes, he liked his space - but it would be strange not to be near family.
purple_chelonian: Donnie happy (happy)

[personal profile] purple_chelonian 2014-10-05 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
"Blown it up? Come on, Raph, it was one time and it was totally Mikey's fault anyway!" You accidentally ignite a homemade explosive with an acetylene torch and you hear about it for the rest of your life, he swears.

Donatello smiles so hard he squints. "That's actually right next door to me. I wonder if they'd let us just knock out the wall?"
sai2yourface: ([2003] Grinning)

[personal profile] sai2yourface 2014-10-17 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
"Sure it was." Raphael said drily, but it was clear he was trying not to laugh. Frankly it wouldn't surprise him that it was Mikey's fault. The guy could be a klutz.

He grinned back at Donnie though. "No harm in askin'!" He said. "On the one hand I kinda like havin' my own space. But it would be weird not to be living in the same place. How big are these places anyway?"
purple_chelonian: Donnie thinking (Default)

[personal profile] purple_chelonian 2014-10-18 07:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's a small apartment. I think you can ask for a bigger one, though. We could always look around to see if there's someplace we'd like better than my current one." Donatello smiles. "I was actually considering living in the sewers out of fear of the apartments being bugged, but I finally decided to just go for it. I mean, my own apartment, right?"