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transport log » ❝ welcome to Exsilium ❞

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.

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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.

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[ 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.

[ 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?

[ Dang, what an inconvenient time to be snatched by the Initiative. He can't imagine the old Jacquese would have cared much, but maybe this new one...?

Either way, he nods toward one of the tables, gesturing that they move toward it for seats. ]

No, I have been here for some time. I can answer any questions you have, if you like.

[ Jacquese takes the cue and moves towards the table, finally setting the mace down before seating himself.

There's so much he could ask that he doesn't even know where to start, so he sticks with his previous policy to focus on the current situation. ]

Do you know what is happening with the monsters?

[ Ohhh, the monsters. He'd really been hoping to put them out of his mind for like five minutes. But that's pretty irresponsible, and he knows that, so he resigns himself to getting straight to business. He takes a seat, arms folded on the table top and watching Jacquese steadily. ]

The monsters are an effect of time travel, it would seem. Something had gone wrong in our last mission, and upon return to Exsilium, we discovered the island infested with them. I can't tell you very much about them, they are unlike any from Rune-Midgard. They seem to die just like anything else, however.

[ Jacquese frowns a bit. So they really weren't kidding about the whole time travel thing. That might take some time wrapping his head around and he's curious about the missions and what they're like, but those questions could wait. Monsters in the here and now first.

There was only one thing of real importance about them to him: ]

Are they strong?

That varies from beast to beast. However, they are all simply beasts— none of them seem to possess magic of any kind, nor any unusual properties.

[ He pauses after that, regarding Jacquese with some curiosity. If he'd maintained his fighting skills... it's possible he would be quite good by now. Ashraf has to admit, he's a little curious. ]

Would you like to see?

[ Beasts without magic made things a lot simpler, but that didn't mean they couldn't be strong with brute force. Obviously he wasn't going to go to Niflheim anytime soon now, perhaps he could still find his challenge here.

The grin that spreads across his face is a confident one as he nods. He would very much like to see. ]

[ Well, at least that much hasn't changed. Ashraf never quite figured he would be fighting on the same side as this guy, though. There's a bare hint of a smile on his own lips as he stands, waves a hand to cast a round of buffs over the two of them, and once more to open a swirling blue portal. All spells that Jacquese himself has, he's sure, but Ashraf has more energy to spare for them. ]

I've saved a warp to the edge of the safe zone.

[ He nods toward it— though of course he doesn't need to, in this case. Jacquese is one of the few people here that would know already that a warp closes after the creator passes through, and others have to go through first.

Man. It's nice to have someone from home. ]

[ There's something of an eagerness to his body language now and he writes a quick 'Thank you' meant both for the buffs and Ashraf's willingness to take him to where the creatures are before he gets to his feet himself.

He picks his (for now he supposes) mace up again before stepping into the portal without hesitation. ]

[ It's not a pretty sight on the other side of the portal. Exsilium has always been pretty broken down and ugly, but it's only gotten worse with the introduction of the monsters. And, speaking of, there's one right there, something with five legs and a horn, scratching forlornly at the rubble at the base of what used to be a two story building. It looks up with half-blind eyes as soon as they arrive, sniffling heavily at the air, and — well, Jacquese, looks like you have company.

After casting a Lex Aeterna on the thing as it rumbles nearer, Ashraf is happy to stand back and let the other take the lead. ]

[ What a forlorn sight. Jacquese had seen plenty of ruins on his many journeys, but none of them were quite like what he was looking at now. There wasn't much time to take in the scenery however, not with the five-legged monster standing nearby. He tightens his grip on the mace and takes a step forward— before suddenly stopping and glancing down at said mace.

It wasn't his own. It would have been one thing if something happened to it while he had been in Niflheim, but here? The monster they were facing looked formidable, but not quite so that it would warrant using a rare weapon that didn't belong to him. The monster was already approaching and he doesn't really have time to think about it, so with a split-second decision he turns and quickly shoves it into Ashraf's hands with an apologetic look.

He fishes the silver studded knuckles given to him by the Initiative from his pocket instead and sends one of the spirit spheres on ahead to slam into the monster while he slips the knuckles on before he runs to meet it halfway. ]

[ Ashraf looks startled to suddenly have a mace in his hands. What's he supposed to do with this and his wand? And it's too obviously valuable to be simply set down. But he refrains from looking annoyed, and only tucks it under his arm to free a hand.

He'll just make sure Jacquese has somewhere better to store it, next time.

He strides more slowly after him, casting spells as he goes. Impositio Manus, Magnificat, Gloria, Kyrie Eleison... A bit overkill for just one beast, but he may as well get them out of the way while things are calm. ]

[ Jacquese charges at the creature and it looks like it's going to be a head-on collision until he side steps at the last moment, because honestly that horn looks too nasty and he'd rather avoid it if he can, and he aims a blow at the side of the monster's head instead.

Once it connects with a sickening crunch, he follows it up with another and then again, building up a nice momentum. Once he gets started, he's relentless and both the knuckles and Ashraf's buffs make the punches that more unforgiving.

After all the confusion of getting pulled here, it kind of feels good to be doing something simple and familiar like whaling on a monster. ]

[ It's a little strange how familiar this is, actually. Keeping an eye out for any friends this monster may have, Ashraf strides nearer, feeling more at home in this moment than he has throughout the entirety of his stay so far. In the company of a monk, watching a monster meet its end... he may as well be in Rune-Midgard.

He glances around and, spotting another something-or-other heading toward them, steps forward calmly to intercept. It's only one, he should be able to keep it busy until Jacquese has managed to kill the first one. ]

[ With a good combo finish, Jacquese makes short work of the monster, but by the time he turns back to face Ashraf it seems they are joined by another odd-looking creature.

Rather than rushing forward to Ashraf's aid right away, he pauses, kind of curious to see how well Ashraf could hold his own now and needing to summon his spirit spheres again anyway as the others had started fading. So he does draw nearer, but stays back a bit to do so. ]

[ Ashraf clearly knows what he's doing with the thing. First up is a shield over himself, immediately followed by a decrease agility for the beast. When its forward lumbering has slowed considerably, he casts a Lex Aeterna and briefly considers a Lex Divinia — but, no, there's no cause to silence a beast that can't use magic anyway.

He sidesteps it once, recasts his shield, and glances back to check on Jacquese. He's done about all he can to kill the time without outright letting the monster attack him, and he'd really rather prefer a warrior take it from here. ]

[ Not bad. Obviously not a battle priest, but Jacquese hadn't expected Ashraf to be. Not if their scuffles in the past were anything to go by anyway, but the both of them had come a long way since then.

Immediately after he summons the last of his spirit spheres, he takes over from there by throwing two of the spheres in rapid succession, both to catch the creature's attention and to make it back away from Ashraf, before he rushes in to give it the same sound beating he gave the other creature. ]

[ Ashraf is all too glad to step aside and let Jacquese have the beast. Without any proper tailors around, he's been trying to keep his robes clean and whole, and the best way to do that is probably not to face off against a monster.

He glances around when the second creature falls, and, seeing no more in sight, turns a small smile onto Jacquese. ]

As I said. Most do not seem to be overly challenging.

[ It's a little disappointing that the monsters aren't more challenging, not that Jacquese would admit that 'out loud' so to speak, but it will make protecting others easier and he's glad for that. He turns back to Ashraf with a smile, nodding at the statement.

He holds up his hand to take the mace back, smile turning apologetic again. ]

[ Right, this thing. Ashraf hands it over willingly, a little glad to be rid of it. ]

Any next ventures out will be somewhat better organized, I hope. [ A little pointedly: ] You should at least have time to set down your belongings.

[ and not make the guy with 1 str carry them!! ]

[ Gosh he already looks sorry enough, doesn't he?

He tucks the mace away under his arm, getting out his blackboard again. ]

My apologies, thank you. [ There, now he actually apologized. ~~For once.~~ ]

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transport log » ❝ welcome to Exsilium ❞

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