transport log » ❝ welcome to Exsilium ❞

[initiates]

Date & Time: Oct. 24th
Location: The Initiative Hold
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports have all arrived and have been led to a banquet room within the Hold.
Warnings: None.

NOTE: This takes place during this plot, though the plot log will not be posted until tomorrow. The Transports already in game have returned from their mission to find the island overrun with monsters. The log is set within the safety of the Initiative Hold, however, so while characters will be aware of what is going on outside, they can otherwise go about their business as usual if they choose.

--

You've just been hustled and bustled through mazes of information and literal, wide corridors of the Initiative Hold and you've been equipped with your weapon—be it a gun, a sword, or even your existing powers. They've handed you this light netbook and a small pouch of coins (or a debit card, if you're more inclined), and there are several Transports before and after you going through the very same motions. You can hear the Greeter's voice as she walks alongside large groups, telling them all about the history of this place and sharing with you your purpose here in a hurried and urgent tone. She looks worse for wear, pale and gaunt, though is putting a great deal of effort into maintaining her energy and professionalism for the new Transports. "I am truly sorry that you came at such a bad time. That wasn't intentional, I assure you."

She leads the way through the Initiative Hold. The walls bear the occasional claw mark as a sign of the misfortune that has plagued the island, but it hardly seems deserted anymore due to the other Transports recently returning from their mission. After turning several corners, you arrive in a large room that has been transformed into a makeshift banquet hall. The food presented is perhaps not as luxurious or bountiful as one would hope, but it is certainly enough to go around, and isn't inedible by any means.

"We wanted to try and make this up to you," she explains. "It's meagre, but we did not have much time to prepare." There are a number of Transports already present, some looking over the long banquet table, others seated throughout the room at large, round tables meant to each seat eight people. The mood is grim, despite the Initiative's efforts to raise morale.

Before the Greeter turns to leave, she is reminding you that it will be perfectly safe to explore the Hold, the courtyard, the housing building, and even a several block radius around it. "Hopefully things will be back to normal soon."

Welcome to the banquet. Welcome to the Initiative Hold—and most importantly, welcome to Exsilium.

Comments

[combats]

[ Jacquese joins the room with his imposing figure, holding a big silver mace that he's resting against his shoulder as he surveys the room with a mild frown. He's also surrounded by five glowing spheres that rotate around him that he summoned in his wariness when he found himself teleported to a strange place. The spheres inadvertently create something of a wide personal space bubble. Not to worry though, if you accidentally stand too close they'll just pass right through you and you won't feel a thing (unless you happen to be undead, a demon or just have a weakness for holy magic then that shit's probably gonna hurt.)

Jacquese is too preoccupied with his thoughts to consider dismissing them. Frankly the information given to him is overwhelming and too much to comprehend all at once, so Jacquese focuses on what is simple and familiar and more of his immediate concern and interest, which are the creatures that seem to be the cause for such a grim mood. Monsters he could deal with. Monsters were easy.

So he moves to go study the claw marks on the wall, snatching a piece of bread from the table to nibble on along the way. ]

[mgann]

[One Martian approaches the claw marks as well, offering a friendly smile from a safe distance. Respecting someone's literal bubble seemed like a good idea here.]

Are they anything familiar to you?

[combats]

[ If the green skin of the girl joining him is anything unusual to him (which it is) Jacquese doesn't bat an eye at it, he just returns the smile readily. At her question he takes a few more seconds of close peering at the marks before looking back and shrugging his shoulders. He holds up his free hand and tilts it up and down in a 'so-so' sort of gesture.

The marks look like something a Zipper Bear could make, only a lot bigger so it was hard to say. ]

[mgann]

[She makes a small "hmm" noises and looks closer as well.]

Whatever it is, it's likely to be from this world, so we probably shouldn't spend too much time studying it. I doubt we'll be able to identify the marks right away.

[Looking back to the other newcomer, M'gann offers a hand for a handshake!]

I'm M'gann.

[combats]

[ He nods his agreement. If this was really a different world, it was likely the creatures would be different from anything they knew too. The marks at the very least gave him an estimate of how big the creature was.

He holds his finger up as a way to tell her to hold on a second before quickly setting his mace down and fishing a miniature blackboard out of his pocket along with a piece of chalk. He writes something on it and flips it so M'gann can see before shaking her hand.

Written on the board in surprisingly neat handwriting: ] I'm Jacquese. Nice to meet you.

[mgann]

[A puzzled look crosses her face before she pulls out the board, which then makes it obvious to her as she nods.]

Nice to meet you, too. If it's okay, I have a much easier way to communicate if you'd like.

[combats]

[ That's a very curious statement to make to him and he tilts his head quizzically. Although that probably gets his point across already, he still erases the text with a simple swipe of his hand and replaces it with: ]

How?

[healplz]

[ It's the spirit spheres that attract Ashraf's attention first, as he moves through the room. He nearly misses them on first glance, but the second pulls the barest hint of a smile to one corner of his mouth. Those glowing lights remind him a little of home, they look almost like...

And that's when he notices the monk uniform.

His eyes widen a little — someone from Rune-Midgard? He hasn't seen anyone from home at all, aside from Corosa — he's heading over almost before the thought is complete. ]

Excuse me! [ He approaches from behind, already looking hopeful and a little pleased. The crowd slows him though, and he gives a quiet apology every time he brushes past someone. ] —Pardon me— Excuse me! Are you from the Church of Prontera?

[combats]

[ Jacquese wasn't sure if he was being addressed, it was quite crowded in here after all, but the mention of the Church of Prontera leaves no doubt in his mind and he promptly turns around to face whoever had been trying to get his attention.

At the sight of a priest's uniform, his face just lights up with a smile and he nods eagerly until he actually gets a look at who is in the uniform, then his smile falters because that face is familiar.

He doesn't recall right away, he actually has to lean in and peer at Ashraf's face closer, but then he remembers... punching that face. When it was much younger.

He mouths in his surprise: ] Salib?

[healplz]

[ Ashraf falters a little himself when the man turns around, also struck by the familiarity. He doesn't know any monks that look like that, right? He's pretty sure he...

Oh. As Jacquese leans closer, he very suddenly places it, and the hopeful look falls immediately. Out of everyone of Rune-Midgard, did the transporter really have to pick someone he'd liked so little?
But, no, he tells himself those scuffles were close to ten years ago. He's matured, surely Jacquese has too— there's no reason to dislike him.

So he straightens himself, takes a breath, and smiles. ]

Foran... You became a monk. That's... fitting. [ He can't even pretend like he won any of those fights, after all. That dubious honor always went to Jacquese. ]

[combats]

[ It would be very hard not to notice the hope leave Ashraf's face or the strain in his voice, though it's not like Jacquese can blame him. They had hardly been on friendly terms as acolytes, far from it, and he's well aware of how terrible he'd been as a child. He probably owes Ashraf an apology or two. Possibly more.

Still, his first urge is to laugh, because honestly, of all the people to run in to? Fate sure worked in funny ways. He quickly suppresses the urge though and returns the smile with a sincere one of his own, the expression so very different from the permanent scowl he used to wear.

It takes a bit of an awkward balancing act with the mace to free his hand so he can take out his blackboard, but he manages. ]

It's been a very long time time. How have you been?
The robes suit you.

[healplz]

[ Whoa, that smile is definitely not what he remembers. But... a sign of that maturity he'd just been hoping for, maybe? His own smile grows a little less tentative as he reads the blackboard. ]

I have been well, thank you. [ He... pauses, a little awkwardly, before addressing the second line, because this talking-and-writing deal is kinda weird. How do?? But in a second he adds: ] As yours suit you.

[ He'd always been mannerly, at least, but he's gotten better over the years at meaning it, while it used to be just another way to prove he was better than other people. He nods toward the mace. ]

And that, as well.

[combats]

[ He's not the only one who seems to have changed, the thought puts his mind at ease.

He bows his head to show his gratitude at the compliment. As much as he had wanted to become a priest, being a monk suited him far better without a doubt. The comment about the mace turns his smile wry for a moment though. ]

It's not mine. I was borrowing it. [ And he sincerely hopes the blacksmith doesn't think he stole it and ran off, but his friends would probably explain he's not that kind of person. More importantly: ]

Did you just arrive as well?

[whatsupcroc]

That one apparently happened a few months ago. Which is weird, because a few months ago as I remember it, there was nothing like that even here.

[ Coming from a girl sitting in a wheelchair stopping somewhere to his right. She glances at the hovering spheres, reaching out like she wanted to poke at one as a child might prod an errant bubble. ]

What're these?

[combats]

[ How odd. He frowns a little at the marks before looking to his right at the girl who had spoken up. The question makes him smile and he takes out his blackboard to write an answer to it. ]

Spirit Spheres. Holy magic.

[whatsupcroc]

( She waits for his response, eyes bright with curiosity. He couldn't speak? He was certainly different looking. Those horns! Were they attached? Maybe it's rude to ask. He has a scar on his face that puts her in mind of Vanadi; she doesn't entirely expect the surge of affection that accompanies that thought. )

Magic! I knew it. That's so cool! If it's holy magic, are you some kind of priest? You can nod yes or no for that one.

( She pauses long enough to wait for some indication of a response before continuing on. )

What's your name? I'm Collette!

[combats]

[ His smile widens a little at both her curiosity and enthusiasm. It was refreshing to see when the overall mood of the room was rather grim.

And well, he figures a monk is somewhat similar to a priest, so he nods. Although he takes the moment when he's writing his name to clarify. ]

Jacquese. I'm a monk.

[whatsupcroc]

( A monk! She looks him over much more deliberately, trying to decide if she's ever seen or heard of a monk who dresses like he does.

... Hmm. Nope! Maybe he wasn't from an Earth she'd recognize. It'd sure explain the horns! Unless the Vikings had monks, and those really were decorative... )

I don't think I've ever met a monk in person before. Nice to meet you, Jak -- Juac -- Jacquese!

( She tried for a vaguely French pronunciation, pressing her lips together afterward to gauge his reaction. Had she totally butchered his name?

He was going to require a nick-name, STAT. )

[combats]

[ He might have laughed if he could have, but alas. It was a good effort! He'd heard far worse and she wasn't too off, so he gives her a thumbs up. ]

It's nice to meet you too, Collette. ☺ [ Yes he totally drew a little smiley face even though she can obviously see him smiling. ]

You can use my last name, Foran, if you prefer.

[honkalypse]

[The light catches Gamzee's attention first. He's lost-looking and hurt, too tired to kill and not knowing what to do with himself when he isn't.

So his absent wandering of the room changes to direct him towards the man. He's very tall, not counting the horns, but much too skinny and doesn't look much older than fourteen. To top that off he's bloody to boot--his blood is purple, but the monster blood splattered on him isn't.

Then he gets closer and notices the horns. There's a moment of surprise over his face, and then a bit of glee. Horns are familiar and comfortable, and even if the man looks human, he can't be because he has horns. Right? Right?]

What are you up and being?

[combats]

[ There's quite the number of odd-looking people around and Jacquese knows better than to judge right away by now. So when he's approached by what seems to be a boy whose appearance would not have been too out of place among the monsters of Rune-Midgard, his alarm is more for all the blood and the purple stuff on him than anything.

He looks to be in pretty bad condition and Jacquese doesn't know what 'up and being' is supposed to mean, but his first concern isn't deciphering what the boy meant. Instead, it's to cast a healing spell over him. His healing isn't up to par to a priest's, but it's still healing nonetheless and he can always cast it multiple times.

He hurriedly gets outs his blackboard to write: ]

Are you alright? I can cast more if that was not enough.

[honkalypse]

[The healing startles him, and he hops a couple steps back, actually making a honking sound in his surprise.

Then he realizes some things up and hurting aren't painful anymore, so there's a moment of poking and prodding at himself to see what happened. He grins, enjoying the feeling--

At least until he realizes the bite-mark on his neck has healed. Distressed, Gamzee claws at it with his ragged nails until the skin is open and bleeding again before relaxing. The fact that he finds an injury soothing probably says something about his mental state. He hardly blinks at the chosen method of communication.]

You up and got your heal on too much, brother. No more of that. CAN'T-- GOT TO KEEP IT.

What are you being? Not got my gander on of no one all up and like you before.

[combats]

[ Things just go from weird to weirder very fast. First the honking noise, then the clawing. He has to stop himself from snatching the kid's wrist to stop him and casting another healing spell because it soon becomes apparent the wound is wanted for... whatever reason.

Jacquese schools his worried frown into a more neutral expression before he nods to indicate, fine, no more healing.

And there's the odd phrasing again too, but Jacquese gets the gist of it this time. 'What are you' tended to refer to one's class in Rune-Midgard, so out of habit he writes 'Monk' before seconds later realizing that, in this place, it might be meant quite literally so he adds 'Human' to it. ]

[honkalypse]

[Gamzee takes a second to parse monk--he doesn't think that's a species, but then it clicks. A class! There wasn't a monk in his session but he doesn't have a motherfucking clue what all the classes are, so he just assumes it's just another class that wasn't in their group.]

Never got to kickin' with a monk before, brother! I'm up and being a bard.

[His smile is wide, if a little predatory and creepy, and he takes a step or two closer. The smile fades into confusion when he reads the next word though.]

What are you up and TELLING AT ME? Humans don't be carrying no horns all up on their nubs. I'm all down with knowing that fact.

[It seems he hasn't realized that the horns aren't a natural thing, but he is determined to find out, because he's intruding and trying to touch them.]

[combats]

[ A bard? The kid looked nothing like any bard he'd ever seen, but well... different worlds and all that he supposed.

He nods to acknowledge the statement, returning the smile with a calm one of his own. The smile makes him a little on edge though, but he stays put.

The kid's confusion in turn makes him confused until he realizes— Ah, of course. The horns would make it seem like he's not human. In Rune-Midgard the clothes indicating his class would be enough for people to realize that the horns were mere equipment, but here it would be different.

He leans slightly out of reach to quickly write an explanation, but once he's written it, he lowers his head so Gamzee can touch them. Jacquese trusts his reflexes enough, should he try anything. The board offers: ]

They're succubus horns, they can be equipped to enhance magical properties.