OPEN ★ ARRIVAL LOG

[futurologists]

ARRIVALS ( OCT 2 ) The dragons are taken from you, sent off to a safe haven. You're back in Oska for less than a day when you hear the announcement and head to the rendezvous point. You blink, step through the portal, there's a loud crack, and... You're thrown into darkness. You taste copper and, for a moment, your ears won't stop ringing. All common side-effects of portal travel. The entire crew arrives just beyond the city gates, so you might also be feeling a little bit claustrophobic. It takes a second for the eyes to adjust, but one can make out buildings and the cobblestone beneath their feet. To the right is the Trade District, where all the vendors are gathered to sell their wares. Up ahead is the City Square, where the rest of the citizens out and about seem to be gathered. To the left of the square is the Commoners' District, and to the right of it is the Nobles' District, the two main residential areas. Further travel west will come to the outskirts, a makeshift residential area, this one densely populated with goblins. Many of the people are holding candles or lanterns. You might want to try getting your hands on one of those. If you have not already done so, your enchanted jewelry will manifest words in front of your very eyes — or sounds in your ear, if you're illiterate — asking you to identify yourself. A quick look around shows that you seem to be the only one able to see it. All you have to do is think or say how you wish to be identified. After that, you're immediately given a message. Those who participated in the dragon mission at Anwick will first receive this: We appreciate your help at Anwick. The wyrmlings will live to grow up and bring about the world's natural end. Thank you. -- ALASTAIR Afterwards, the crew will be given an abridged version of this, then told to familiarize themselves with the city and natives, report all information gathered back to ALASTAIR, and wait for further instruction. At the end of the night, wherever they may be, everyone will receive a letter with the royal seal thanking them for their efforts to end the goblins' defiance and inviting them to the Festival of Illumination on the 4th. FESTIVAL OF ILLUMINATION ( OCT 4 ) Candles are sitting on windowsills throughout the entire city, but the main event is in the city square. In the fountain float lit lotuses, and people all around are holding lanterns, waiting to light them. There's a minstrel playing songs, and several of the vendors have pulled their carts up to the square in the hopes of making a sale. Many sweets are for sale, including baked apples, gingerbread, cherry tarts, pudding, and more. There's also some drinks for sale. Some children are playing games in the corner, and others are dancing to the music or writing wishes on slips of paper to be sent into the sky with their lanterns. Everyone seems merry for once, but you'd better be careful. This is an ideal place for a pickpocket. About an hour and a half into the festival, the lanterns are sent into the sky. They're sent flying, the sky becoming filled with bright lights, until... A strong gust of wind sends all the lights out. At least, you think it was a gust of wind. What else could have done that? On closer inspection, however, you'll see that even the candles sitting on windowsills inside have gone out. For a minute or so, there's only darkness and chaos. Suddenly, the flames begin to burn again, revealing a message in the cobblestone in the center of the square. It almost looks as if it's been burned into the ground: IT IS COMING, followed by a symbol of a creature with a lion's head, goat's body, and serpent's tail. [MOD NOTE: This is a catch-all log for the first few days. For the sake of organization, all arrival threads should be posted under the subheader ARRIVALS and all festival threads should be posted under FESTIVAL. Threads that don't fall under either of those categories can be top-levels. Also, please remember to add your character's tag to the post! Thank you, and have fun!]

Comments

Outskirts.

[dailydouble]

[ As he walks among the goblins, Ahad can't help but think of how circumstances change things. He looks human enough for many here to mistake him as one, but it had been some time since Ahad had played at being mortal. That the goblins viewed him with distrust because of his 'humanity' was more amusing than it likely should be. Not that he planned to challenge that notion, unless it became necessary for the mission. Sometimes, being underestimated could be useful.

While Ahad had noticed the being in front of him in the crowd of arrivals, he had barely spared him a second glance. Having siblings that looked stranger than Hellboy ever could meant that he was little phased by appearances. He would have passed him by...that is, until Hellboy turned quickly and bumped into him.

He should probably have at least faked having to catch his balance or being knocked back, but the move had started him and it was quickly too late. Which is part of why Ahad sounds more put out than usual, when he speaks. ]

Do you mind?

[hellshaped]

[Hellboy is similarly unmoved by the impact, so he winds up just kind of awkwardly standing nearly on top of the guy he just walked right into. Which is... awkward. On top of an already awkward situation.]

Er. Sorry. [He takes a few steps back, just to better facilitate conversation; being seven feet tall means people wind up talking at your sternum if you stand too close.

He hasn't seen many humans out here with all the goblins, so he's curious.] You're not from here. Right?

[dailydouble]

[ As awkward as the situation may be, Ahad had never planned to step back. At least Hellboy made the decision to do so himself, to save them the further awkwardness of having this entire conversation practically on top of each other. Even afterward, looking up's a necessity. Ahad isn't short by any means, but Hellboy is still about a foot taller.

He does nod rather gracefully, accepting the apology. ]

No, not at all. Unless you happen to be a very tall and oddly shaped goblin, I suppose the same could be said for you.

[hellshaped]

Right. I'm the wrong color. [It's said offhandedly, distractedly, almost like he's making a vague joke as he looks around. Which he sort of is? A lot of what Hellboy says can be interpreted as very deadpan humor.

He waves to the side a little.] Have you found anything out? I'm having a hell of a time getting information on what's going on.

[dailydouble]

Much too red. [ Ahad can do the deadpan humor thing, too. ]

I believe I appear to be much too human, to learn much in this area of the city.

[hellshaped]

[Huh. He didn't consider that prejudice would go the other way, but now that he thinks about it... why wouldn't it?]

I don't know. I'm not having much luck either. They might just be cagey in general, I mean... [He gestures up at the dark sky.] That's got to be enough to put anybody on edge.

[dailydouble]

[ He'll look up at the sky himself, for a moment. ] That and we are strangers. Why trust a large number of people who have suddenly been dropped in your town?

[hellshaped]

[That's also true, and Hellboy glances around at the cityfolk again.]

Well... all things considered, they're actually being more welcoming than I would have thought. Nobody's got out the pitchforks or anything.

[dailydouble]

Did you expect pitchforks?

[ That actually says more about the world Hellboy is from than anything else. ]

[hellshaped]

Not literally. [It was sort of a joke! Though Hellboy's deadpan delivery often gets lost in translation, so he's not exactly surprised about the interpretation.

He sighs and gestures around vaguely.] I guess we should just get back to it.

[dailydouble]

[ Deadpan delivery isn't something lost on Ahad, either. He wasn't entirely serious with his remark, but is willing to continue as they have been. ] No? But raised pitchforks would add some local color to the proceedings.

[ He'll glace around, while Hellboy gestures. This really does deserve a sigh. ] I am not always the best choice for speaking to the populace.

[hellshaped]

Well, at least torches would make things brighter, anyway. [This is morbid. Why is he always so morbid?

Hellboy tilts his head at the comment, though, because... well, this guy is a tiny bit... stuffy? He's a little stuffy. That could put some people off, sure, but it's a medieval world. He figures they're used to that sort of thing.]

We can tag-team it for awhile if you need some help. I'm certainly not having much luck alone, and I could use the company.

[dailydouble]

I suppose street lamps are too much to ask for. [ Possibly yes, because the cost of keeping lamps in operation all the time would likely be extreme. Not that Ahad is certain they've reached that level of technology yet. ]

I would not be opposed to working together. [ He seems a bit taken aback at the offer, as if he's not used to anyone wanting to work with him. There's also a sense of caution, in his response. ]

[hellshaped]

[Despite Hellboy's monstrous appearance, he is generally very friendly and willing to work with new people. Unless they are demons. Don't tell him you are friends with a demon, Ahad.

Hellboy just shakes his head, maybe a touch amused at the hesitance.] I don't bite or anything.

[He makes a beckoning gesture and turns to keep moving.]

I'd say daylight's burning, but... you know. Oh. Hellboy, by the way.

[dailydouble]

[ It's more like practically married to a demon, but it's likely a good thing that Ahad doesn't intend to bring up Glee. ]

Not unless asked? [ He'll raise an eyebrow, mostly joking. ]

I go by Ahad.

[hellshaped]

[HA HA, OH NO. Hellboy lesson #1: he is kind of a prude. He lets that comment go with a bit of an awkward silence, instead focusing on the name. It's ostensibly an Earth name, which is interesting, given a lot of people he's met so far are from different planets or dead civilizations or what have you.]

Well, Ahad, let's see if we can't get some information if we work together. With our collective good looks, we're sure to persuade somebody.

[dailydouble]

[ It's actually a shorter version of someone else's name, but Ahad isn't about to explain that. ]

Between our good looks and charming manners, I have absolute faith in our ability to learn something.

[hellshaped]

Well, there you go. We're making progress already.