Event: A Prelude

[trainmasters]

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 8, evening
Where: around

[It's a beautiful evening in the jungle tonight. It's warmer than usual, and some new plants have appeared, black vines that climb up the trees near the Aurora, opening hundreds of tiny white flowers that glow in the darkness. They let of a sweet smell that's soothing like a chamomile tea, and are filled with a dew that, if consumed, leaves characters feeling relaxed and just a little more likely to act on positive impulses.

However, the vines of this plant aren't so harmless. When broken they drip a milky white substance which irritates the skin, leaving red welts that burn and last anywhere from an hour to a full day, depending on how long the substance is in contact. Eating this won't kill you but it'll give you really intense heartburn and nausea for a few hours.

Additionally, if you're walking around in the nearby jungle, you might trip over one of the small cracks that have appeared in the forest floor. Mostly they're not visible underneath the grass and underbrush, but the bigger ones have caused a slight unevenness in the ground that can catch careless toes. There doesn't seem to be any particular pattern or origin to the cracks, nor do they have any other affect on their surroundings. They're just there, suddenly, in a roughly 100-foot radius from the train.

But there's plenty of reason to ignore these natural phenomenon, because there are some new teammates waking up in your carriages! In response to this new wave of arrivals, existing players will hear a cute jingling ringtone come from their Chain. Upon checking, the screen displays... a silly animation of balloons and confetti and the words "WELCOME NEW HEROES", which goes away on its own after a few seconds or when characters tap it. The same display is shown on the big screen in the lounge, in which trays full of colourful drinks have mysteriously appeared. The drinks taste like Kool-Aid and change some part of you the corresponding colour -- pink hair, blue skin, purple eyes, or maybe just a literal green thumb!]

[[OOC NOTE: Newbies can review the arrival scenario on the navigation page if necessary. The drinks in the lounge come in any colour you want, and cause colour shift in whatever and however large an area you want. It could just be a strand of hair or it could be your entire body, whatever you feel like playing with.]]

Comments

Re: ginger

[legis_vox]

It seems you do.

[this young man is standing straight-backed in the entry, gaze assessing; he looks a little puzzled at the dog, but reaches down a hand for it to sniff]

[ruinatings]

[The dog is very friendly despite having just been materialized onto a magic train maybe three hours ago, and is all wagging tail and licks. Her owner is a lot less enthusiastic but still nice enough -- refined and polite and warm-seeming.]

Several of you, even. And here I thought they were leaving me to my own devices.

[legis_vox]

And "they" would be?

[rubbing the dog's ears absently]

[ruinatings]

The mysterious prince and his little computer. Have you picked up the device they gave you?

[legis_vox]

[nods, producing it from a pocket]

I saw their message, but it's good to get a confirming opinion.

[ruinatings]

When we first arrived, there was a recording of the prince himself. It does seem likely that he's a real person, though whether he's telling the truth about his identity and our purpose I can't say.

What we can confirm is that we're rewarded for doing the tasks they've asked of us.

[legis_vox]

Good to know.

Tell me more about these tasks.

[ruinatings]

Our team specifically is meant to "make promises". There are several other things that apply to everyone, but they're all fairly simple social interactions. They keep a list posted in the communal area.

I must ask -- do you have your memories, and any unusual abilities? There are a number of people here who are missing one or the other.

[legis_vox]

What would you consider unusual?

[thinks for a moment]

I don't seem to be missing memories. No obvious gaps.

[ruinatings]

I suppose "unusual" depends on where you come from. I haven't spoken to many about it so I don't know if it varies, but our working definition seems to be something along the lines of "anything remotely useful in the combat situation we're in".

[He pauses to take a sip of tea, glancing at everyone gathered together.]

As for memories, those affected appear to lose everything -- even their very names. If you can remember yours, you're likely intact.

[legis_vox]

Combat situations I can handle.

[frowns a bit, then holds out a hand. an angular symbol flickers into existence, then vanishes before it can do much more than look interesting]

And it looks like sigil magic works, at least. As for names, I remember more than that.

[ruinatings]

"Sigil magic", is it? How interesting.

[Every time Rufus meets a new person they bring something else to the table. It's educational!]

[legis_vox]

It's normal to me, but you were right; it depends on where you come from.

What's normal to you?

[ruinatings]

This.

[producing a certain little device -- he flips it open to reveal the quartz inside]

Using natural magic is a rare gift where I'm from. But you'll quickly find that almost no one on this train comes from the same reality.

[thereisnowhy]

[Once the conversation with Rufus has gone on a bit... from a kid currently scaling a bookshelf over >>> there to peek into the higher shelves:]

Hello! It seems we are all new? Sora is also new!

[legis_vox]

Seems we all are but him.

[he gives the kid an assessing look, but whatever conclusion he comes to, it seems to relax him a bit]

We'll be working together for a while...Sora, is it?

[thereisnowhy]

Sora is Sora Harukawa! Sora is to introduce himself when he meets someone new! [He lightly hops on down and goes to look this other person over, too.] Let's do our best together?

[legis_vox]

There's no point in doing less. Call me Timur.

[thereisnowhy]

Timur? Mister Timur? Timur-niisan?

[legis_vox]

I don't know what the last one means. Timur is fine.

[thereisnowhy]

It means "big brother"! It is nice to meet you, Timur.

[legis_vox]

Same to you.

[thereisnowhy]

Would Timur like to look around with Sora after Timur is done talking with Mister Rufus?

[legis_vox]

All right.

[thereisnowhy]

Thank you! Sora will be waiting over there.

[Points in a vague direction with both hands.]