transport log » ❝ welcome to Exsilium ❞

[initiates]

Date & Time: Sept 23rd, 2012.
Location: The Initiative Hold & Courtyard.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports have all arrived and have been shuffled into the Courtyard after their initial briefings.
Warnings: None.

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. "This isn't standard," she's saying, walking perhaps faster than most of the people she's dragging around. "We don't normally have so many Transports at once. Please, let me show you into the courtyard."

You pass what looks like huge gymnasiums, all with dummies and targets strewn and splayed around the room. Training areas. There are even classrooms, and a few small offices. You're rushed past a large library while the Greeter informs you that you can find almost all your information there, if you've got the time to look—and trust her, you'll have time. You don't spend a lot of time in the bank, and it's a bit of a blur of exchanges with more and more of these strangely-accented and oddly polite-seeming members of the Initiative.

Soon enough, you're in a massive courtyard bustling with all the other Transports. It's not exactly what you'd expect, and it looks more like barracks than anything—huge walls of concrete and stone, separating you from all of the hallways you'd just passed through. It's raining heavily, and dark clouds loom in the air. It's a chill cold, and there are shelters—long cloth hangings that extend from the walls of concrete to house you from the rain, but not enough. Most notably, the courtyard is filled with a marketplace. Even in the cold and the rain, there are several citizens seated at their covered booths and tables. They're selling all manner of their own handmade goods and foods, and citizens and Transports alike are traveling from one small covered shop to another in search of all manner of necessities.

The Greeter's voice has become so faint now, but you swear you can make it out in the back of the crowds as she tells you, "Good luck. Be safe!"

Her voice is drowned out by the busy marketplace, though even the transactions taking place are somewhat subdued. Nobody is overly happy, really, though most citizens can be found with smiles on their faces. It doesn't seem like they're that shocked to see you, either; even if you're not bound in tattered rags and wrapped in heavy shawls as they are. You're welcome to walk up to a shop, and find yourself something to eat—hey, maybe you'll even find something akin to a raincoat. Or, you can join the others under the coverings against the walls. Where am I? What war? She was talking so fast, and it didn't all make very much sense… did anyone else catch it all?

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

Comments

[demonbloodblade]

[A small shrug. The voice is low, a bit rough.]

I was traveling through wilderness when I was ...brought here. Early spring can bring sudden rains.

It was sunnier then, though.

[devils_shoestring]

Yes, I'm hoping this rain isn't an every day thing.

[This place is already bleak enough without the rain adding to the rather depressed atmosphere.]

[demonbloodblade]

It can't rain every day. But apparently we have places to stay, so at least we can get out of it without having to set up our own tents.

My name is Meliantha.

[devils_shoestring]

Bela.

[She gives a polite nod of her head.]

I suppose we just have to worry about our roommates being dreadful.

[demonbloodblade]

[A somewhat dark chuckle.]

Depending on the dreadfulness, there's always the windows to solve that problem.

[devils_shoestring]

[Bela chortles.]

I'm almost afraid for your roommates now.

[demonbloodblade]

I've travelled alone for many years. I'm not always the best company.

[devils_shoestring]

Well then, it looks like you have the perfect opportunity to brush up on those social skills. [She smiles.] Though, if I may say, you don't seem unpleasant so far from first impressions.

[demonbloodblade]

[A moment of consideration.]

Most of the time, the first showing of my face causes screaming and fleeing. Not having that happen is... somewhat surprising. But to be honest, also very nice.

[devils_shoestring]

I'm sure some have seen stranger.

[Bela certainly has. Creatures with no mouths, but eyestalks, scorpion tails, and hooves come to mind almost immediately...]

[demonbloodblade]

Well. That's somewhat reassuring, actually.

[devils_shoestring]

Of course, you might not be able to hold me to the norm here. [It was probably still a better idea for her to exercise caution.]