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

[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.

[legis_vox]

[leaning closer to inspect the quartz, apparently fascinated]

Also good to confirm. What are those gems? There's something about them...

[ruinatings]

Quartz. They're a type of circuit made from elemental crystals. Each one enhances the user's physical attributes or allows them to use orbal Arts -- that is, something akin to magical "spells". The device itself is made to facilitate that, and provides its own additional functions and combat enhancements.

It's quite handy, as you can imagine.

[legis_vox]

Crystals that let anyone draw on magic...useful is one word.

[shakes his head a little]

Can you use them without the device?

[ruinatings]

Unfortunately no. The orbment is the conduit for the circuit's power. But you can switch between various quartz, so it's entirely possible to outfit yourself for each situation you'll be facing. What about your magic? Does it require supplies or just your will?

[legis_vox]

Will and knowledge. The core of it is invoking an Archon's sigil, then modifying it with other sigils that shape the spell you're trying to cast.

[ruinatings]

I see. It sounds easier to customize than an orbment, certainly. But it seems to lack the accessibility factor...

[legis_vox]

[nods]

It's flexible, and when you know a sigil you always have it. But you have to learn them, and how to embellish them.

[ruinatings]

I can't help but wonder how it'd fare as standard army training...

[legis_vox]

That's how I started my training, so pretty well.

[ruinatings]

Ah, I see! In that case it may be superior to orbments, in a way, since it doesn't rely on an external medium. How incredibly useful...

[legis_vox]

Getting the most out of it sounds like it takes a lot more than your orbments. Most guilds focus on a few sigils, and don't expand much beyond that.

[ruinatings]

Ah, yes. Therein lies the weakness. I'd love to see what would happen if the two were pitted against one another.

[legis_vox]

Are you offering a spar?