Intro Log.

[awashmods]

Ding, dong, bell, Pussy's in the well. Who put her in? Little Johnny Thin. Who pulled her out? Little Tommy Stout. What a naughty boy was that, To try to drown poor pussy cat, Who never did him any harm, But killed all the mice in the farmer's barn.

ou wake in knee-deep water, cold as ice and stagnant, in a space that is far too echoey and spacious. It feels like a massive cave, but looking up... there's only one small, circular opening that shows grey sky and shines any sort of light. It looks like a long trip upwards, a small cylinder with walls of brick that's just a little too high to reach, even when jumping. Getting out is probably going to be a bit of a task, especially considering the water is more than cold enough to make limbs go numb. The dark makes it impossible to see much further, but the space seems large, all filled with water, but with no other way out, stone walls the only thing for an intrepid explorer to find. But most importantly of all... you're not alone. Welcome to Awash's first intro log, everyone! Please review the FAQ and rules before playing. Characters have all woken at the bottom of the well in the middle of the town (which seems a lot bigger on the inside, somehow), and it looks like they'll have to put in some work to get out. Once out, they'll be free to explore the various locations the Town has to offer at will. Just try not to die on any of the far-too-rickety walkways. Further information can be found here at the OOC post, and don't forget to greet your fellow players here!

Comments

[sirnyxalot]

Decrepit Well of Holding

[Nyx sputters upon waking up to cold water instantly soaking his uniform, the deep voices of long dead Kings echoing in his ears. It’s immediately apparent that something must have happened after he put on the ring of the Lucii. This isn’t the square he’d been lying in, and though it was nighttime the light of streetlamps and distant fires had made it easy enough to see. Very much unlike this oppressive darkness.

It’s difficult to find his feet with the weight of what feels like people around him, but long years of training push aside his initial confusion in favor of figuring out what happened and where he is. Holding one arm up above his head, Nyx calls fire into his hand and breathes a sigh of relief when a stream of magic answers him.

The relief is short-lived as the light illuminates his surroundings. He rubs at his eyes with his free hand, but everything remains stubbornly gray.]

What?


Is It Freedom If You're Lost?

[If the previous hour hadn't been clue enough, Nyx knows by the state of the town that he's no longer anywhere near Lucis anymore. Not just Insomnia, either; he doesn't recognize this architecture from any country he's seen. Everything looks like it had been abandoned a long time ago, too. If there are any people here besides who had been in the well with him he'd be impressed.

He walks carefully, wary of coming across any creatures that might have made the decrepit buildings their home. He doesn't like how quiet everything is, and the worrying lack of colour makes him tense. Eventually he makes his way towards Bluo, pausing to study the little placard before watching the disturbingly calm fluid in the closest canal.]

It's too still. Doesn't seem natural.

[Nyx crouches next to the edge, trying to see something, anything, within it's depths.]

[unfatalist]

[If it walks like a Glaive, talks like a Glaive, and dresses like a Glaive, it's — probably Chancellor Izunia, actually, because there's no way in hell that this particular Glaive can possibly be here right now.

And it is, in fact, the uniform that Ignis spots first, from his vantage point up on one of the rooftops in Bluo; the design itself is immediately distinctive, and particularly so for someone who's spent a great deal of time in the Citadel in near proximity to the king. But the second thing that catches his eye are the accents to the uniform — something the Glaives sometimes do, he knows, to personalize them (which perhaps defeats the point of a uniform, but so it goes), but also rendering them unique to their wearer, making it immediately possible to pick out precisely which Glaive this is.

Blue-purple ribbons like streamers off the right side. That's Nyx Ulric, except that it can't be Nyx Ulric, because Nyx Ulric is dead.

And if it's not Nyx Ulric, then clearly there's only one other person it can be.]

Decided to show yourself at last, have you?

[Thus comes the call from up on the rooftop, even as blue magic is flashing in the air and Ignis's spelldaggers are appearing from the aether in his hands.]

[sirnyxalot]

[The words make little sense, he'd had no intention of hiding and honestly couldn't see any reason to just yet, but the tone behind the words make him tense up and reach for the kukri sheathed at his back. He looks up in time to see the fading dregs of magic sparking in the air.

Exhaling slowly, Nyx stands. He keeps his blade at the ready, but holds his other hand palm out to the side. Something about the man on the rooftop seem familiar, aside from the magic that could only be Insomnian, but with the recent betrayal he couldn't afford to get careless.]

I'm not usually in the habit of concealing myself.

[Avoiding a fight would be preferable. He'd rather not waste his life when Glauca is still alive somewhere.]

[unfatalist]

Only when it's convenient for you, then?

[Two steps forward and he's letting himself drop easily from the roof, daggers now in hand and eyes focused on the kukri in Nyx's. He'd used some sort of magic against Ravus, ink-black and sparking with purple malice. He'll have to watch for that again; likely enough when it comes time to attack, he'll drop the appearance of Ulric entirely and come out swinging with the magic at his disposal.

Very well, then. He'll just have to stay tensed and at the ready.]

I'll only ask you once: where have you taken us, and what have you done with Noct?

[sirnyxalot]

Only when the mission calls for it.

[Nyx steps back, keeping distance between them. He knows that stance, knows just how easily those daggers can cross a battlefield. It's as familiar to him as breathing and very few people are truly proficient at it. The implications aren't great.

A concern that seems confirmed with the man's next question. Nyx's expression focuses and he tightens his grip. If something happened to Noct already, then...how long was he out?]

What happened to his Highness?

[unfatalist]

[There's something about the way "Nyx" answers that catches at him, inserts just a thread of doubt into his otherwise steely conviction that the man in front of him is an enemy. It's not the bit about the mission, not the way the answer sounds like words he's repeated often enough that it's become a mantra.

No, it's the way he says his Highness. There's no glib lilt, no mocking sarcasm. He sounds...respectful. As though the title actually means something.

Is that really the sort of sound that can be faked...?]


You're the one who had a blade over his throat. Why don't you tell me.


[...A silver blade, long and straight. Not the weapon held deftly in his hand at the moment.

Can Ardyn's illusions extend to weapons? He doesn't know, there are too many unknowns. But he can't falter, not now, not like this. Not when he's the likeliest suspect to know where Noct is.]

is it freedom

[parodeity]

You might not want to crouch that close? It's like, absolutely begging someone to come along and shove you in.

[ ... ]

I wasn't gonna, for the record.

[ although he's standing somewhat nearby, arms crossed over his chest. dave sure is a source of red in this grayscale landscape. ]

[sirnyxalot]

[The colour is jarring against the background and Nyx pauses just long enough to adjust before raising an eyebrow.]

It would answer what this stuff is, at least.

[Nevertheless he moves back from the edge, not wanting to get wet again after finally starting to dry off.]

Though anyone who tried would be coming in with me, so it's best to not tempt it.

[parodeity]

I'm perfectly capable of holdin' back from childish impulses. I have never pulled even a single fire alarm.

[ ...and then he died, so like? ]

Huh. I actually regret that, now?

[sirnyxalot]

[Nyx watches him a moment before grinning. Somehow he can relate.]

Looks like you missed your chance. I doubt anything that sophisticated even works here.

[He gestures at the closest buildings. If anything more advanced than a wood burning stove works in the wreckage he'd be very surprised.]

[parodeity]

God, you're totally right? This blows. Next time I'm anywhere NEAR a fire alarm, I am pullin' it come hell or high water.

[ note to game: make a fire alarm exist SOLELY so dave strider can pull it??? ]

Now that the proverbial bucket has been kicked the bucket list should fully go into effect.

freedom

[hypertoxic]

I know, right?

[ Hey, here's a weird teenage alien monster kid just hanging out in the doorway of one of the buildings. She's bored and all her searches have turned up nothing. ]

No people, no sounds, it's dead. There's animals, though? I guess. There's weird mutant fish.

[sirnyxalot]

[It's a good thing she's not the only one like her that came out of the well. Part of Nyx still feels uneasy around someone so clearly not human. Too many years fighting monsters and daemons to let go in just a few hours. At least none of them ever spoke in the midst of battle. Makes things less confusing now.

He's tempted to stick his hand in the water, just to see if it moves at all. He hasn't seen the fish yet, so he'll take her word for it.]

There's some kind of life, at least. I'm surprised there isn't more wildlife in town, though. Some of these buildings would make a great shelter.

[hypertoxic]

[ ....... oh. yikes. vriska is always on hyper alert for anyone who will treat her differently, and she ends up feeling ... not sure where this guy stands. she'll frown a little as she meanders over to him, but that's all. ]

Pretty strange, right? If there's not bizarro bullshit afoot I'll eat my stupid spiked bracelets. Although I will have to disagree with the buildings making "great" shelter. They are basically all in ruins.

[sirnyxalot]

[He'll come around. Just so long as no one tries to eat him, or something. Even kids can be dangerous when they want to be.]

Some things thrive in ruins, especially places where it's too dangerous for people to live. So long as there are holes that can keep out the weather I guarantee some animal can find its home there.

Not here, though.

[theshowsover]

[Akira looks up from where he, too, is watching the water. It's not quite like anything he's ever seen, even in a Palace, where reality is distorted to fit the worldview of its ruler. But most people, at least, fantasized in color.]

Even colorless, it should move, right? Have some fish in it.

[sirnyxalot]

Wind, wildlife. Hell, maybe even a current underneath the surface. Something.

[He reaches behind him to pull a kukri knife from its sheath and experimentally touches the surface with the tip of the blade. The water ripples naturally, disturbed by the movement.]

Well, that works. I don't know if I feel any better about it.

[theshowsover]

[So it does react to things. But only them? Interesting.]

I guess you've never seen anything like this either?

[He glances at the knife out of interest, wondering if it's better than his. Probably. Maybe he should get some better ones now that he's somewhere where he doubts he's limited by age restrictions.]

[sirnyxalot]

No.

[He's seen a lot of magic and how it effects the world, and even technology that screwed up a lot of things, but nothing like this.]

This whole place rubs me the wrong way. Something's off, beyond the lack of colour, but I haven't figured out what.

[theshowsover]

There's no one here, either. At least, no one other than us.

[Other than the people who broke up in the well. There were dozens of them, all brought here at once, and yet none of them know why they're here. What's wanted of them.]

Like the whole town is dead. [Even the color went with it.]

[youwillbeunequaled]

Too still-!

[Tonbokiri, also studying the water, repeats back the words in a way that clearly reads "aha, so that's what it was!" ...Which is a little embarrassing, but you have to admit, there has been something of an overload of strange things today, and what it was about the water that was troubling hadn't exactly jumped out at him the way the colourless environment did.

Ah, but now that he's drawn the attention of the other man-]

Apologies. It's good to have a feeling put into words, sometimes.

[And now that he's looking at him, he realizes that it is another man, which is to say not a child or teen. As everyone he's come across until now was (or at least appeared to be) a youth, he feels an instant kinship with the man based on this alone.

So holding his sheathed spear upright by his side and facing the man squarely he bows as he introduces himself,]

A pleasure to meet you. I am called Tonbokiri, one of the Three Great Spears of Japan.

[sirnyxalot]

[Nyx looks up sharply at the exclamation, his nerves a little on edge after the last...day? Or more. There's no telling how long he was out between the attack on his city and waking up in that well. The man facing him is just as unfamiliar as everyone else he's seen here. Clearly not from Eos.

Which, Nyx supposed, should be normal at this point.

He waves off the man's apology as he looks him over. The spear is held with a practiced grip, as if familiar with the weapon, and the way he holds himself speaks of experience using it in battle. A guess that's all but confirmed as Tonbokiri introduces himself.]

Impressive title. [There's no sarcasm in his voice as he stands. He's sure that whatever Japan is they're probably very proud. He nods his head respectfully to the bow.]

I'm Nyx Ulric. Nothing fancy about me. Just a soldier.

[youwillbeunequaled]

[Why, thank you. He's rather fond of the title himself.

Tonbokiri becomes even more enthused when the man introduces himself as a soldier. Yes, he certainly has the look about him, doesn't he. He makes a small gesture to dismiss that there is 'nothing fancy' about him.]

If you are 'just' a soldier now, that simply means that you have yet to find your title. I myself was the last to be named a Great Spear.

But if I may say so, Nikkusu Urikku- ah. My deepest apologies. [Tonbokiri pauses, embarrassed.] Your name is foreign to me, and hearing it and pronouncing it are two different things. If you could say it once more?

[sirnyxalot]

[According to his brothers in arms he's the "Hero" but that name doesn't suit him. The less anyone here knows about it, the better.]

It's fine. Yours is just as foreign to me, so no hard feelings. I'm sure it'll take me a few tries too. It's just Nyx. Nick-ss.

[youwillbeunequaled]

Ah, that's also true. [About his name being just as foreign. This situation is more complicated than he initially thought.
But! One step at a time!]

Nick-ss... Nikss... Nixs... [Tonbokiri practices it softly to himself, nodding to himself before turning back to the man.]

Thank you for your understanding, Nixs-dono. [ (Still needs a little more practice.) ] Mm. My name is long compared to yours so you're right, it might take you a while to say 'Tonbokiri'. But likewise, no hard feelings.

Ah, but before that, I wanted to ask you. [At the change of subject the atmosphere about him turns more serious and he leans in towards Nix.] Did you notice any more adults besides the two of us here?