hadriel | ✘ Round 1

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✘ Round 1 | [Text]

Greetings.

I am new to this city. I seek information on a number of things. I have been told that an individual that goes by the name of 'Arya' may be able to tell me more. But anyone else who is willing to part with information--on the city, on the supposed 'gods' that rule it, or any attempts to escape from it--well, it would be appreciated. If you require it, I will find some way to reciprocate, once I have gotten my bearings.

That is all. [He's tempted to ask about the presence of nonhumans in the city and how they are tolerated, but that strikes him as a bit too specific of a question. He's largely been in hiding since his arrival, both because his mission to earth mandated secrecy and because all previous attempts at contact had ended absolutely horribly for him. Glacius isn't feeling secure or trusting enough yet to give away what he really is, hence the text--it's hard to adjust his large fingers to the buttons and he rarely writes in common, but it doesn't give away his appearance or his voice. It's as impersonal as he can currently be. This will have to do for now.]

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I'm in the process of creating a map of the area, as well as marking where some of the monsters or other animals have been cited. It's not complete yet, but you may find it useful.

[The map in question is attached.]

What do you want to know about the gods?

[Glacius isn't completely familiar with the network, the devices that are used to access it, or the attachment system--and the fact that this technology seems primitive compared to what he's used to does not help. He has to fiddle with it for a moment but eventually he gets the map to open--and Makers, this is already turning out to be much more painless than he anticipated. He'll study the map intensely later. As for right now:] Received. Thank you.

Nearly anything; information is a useful tool, and it would be foolish of me not to equip myself adequately. I'm sure I could come up with specific questions, but first--is there anything you could tell me that you think would be particularly pertinent here?

Edited 2016-03-20 22:58 (UTC)

There is a great deal of information.

One: death is not permanent. The one called Hope has the ability to resurrect the fallen. This process is not without pain.

Two: the gods feed off emotions. They orchestrate and manipulate events in order to facilitate this.

Three: supplies are limited. The gods provide us with some, but it cannot always be trusted. The food was recently poisoned.

Four: We have found nothing that allows us to harm the gods. Yet.

[Some of this Glacius has already heard, though it is good to hear it from another source to confirm that the person who originally told him all of this was not just attempting to trick him. One thing, however, sticks in his mind:] Death is... not permanent? In what way? Are humans reanimated as skeletons, or are there sorcerers here who have become immortal through the use of dark powers?

[Those are the only ways he's ever seen humans cheat death, and he's not looking forward to running into those sorts of individuals again. Spinal and Kan-Ra... they were more than enough.]

[It's much easier to type these things than attempt to say them.]

Neither. After death, the individual will find themselves waking in Hope's temple. The process does not appear to strengthen or modify them in any noticeable way.

... I am extrapolating that you believe Hope is responsible for resurrecting individuals that have died in this city. [If what he's been told about the gods warring for power and getting that power by feeding off of their respective emotions is true, that is. He could see the resurrection of a loved one inspiring quite a bit of hope. But it's a very, very odd thought, almost to the point of being disquieting.]

Hope has claimed responsibility for doing so. A corpse provides no emotions to feed off of.

But I have just witnessed a whole handful of new arrivals like myself being brought to this city. If they have the power to draw in more beings, then why... why do that to someone? Why not let the dead rest, if they can simply be replaced? [This is making him feel highly uneasy. It doesn't sound like these gods--even the ones named for positive emotions--care all that much about them. No, it's starting to sound like they're all just livestock to be herded and harvested.]

Unclear. However, they are attempting to resurrect more gods and the object that brings people in may not be entirely under their control. They may be attempting to conserve all possible sources of fuel.

[Annnd there it is. Confirmation of his unspoken fears. He was hoping that even though he'd essentially been kidnapped by these gods, it was going to turn out better for him than the last time he was forced to play along with the whims of others. But these gods sound just as uncaring about him as Ultratech had been. He doesn't really know how to respond, so he changes the subject, because this is at the front of his mind now:] Have there ever been any escape attempts from this city? I have done some searching myself, but it seems... deceptively difficult, when the only paths that lead out are a labyrinthine maze of tunnels.

Attempts have been made to explore and map the tunnels. We have found no exit. I believe this to be on purpose.

[The gods would hardly make it easy for their meals to escape.]

Of course. They have to get some use out of us, after all. [If tone could translate to text, there would be no shortage of disgust to the alien's words.] But I refuse to be dissuaded so easily. I will continue to try and find a way out. I don't suppose it would be too much to ask to keep me notified of future attempts or plans?

For beings that feed on emotion, they don't seem to understand the intricacies of psychology. Take heart in that.

[It might change. Then they're all fucked.]

Of course not. United we might stand a chance.

My name is Maketh Tua. Pleased to make your acquaintance.

[United. Glacius isn't so sure how he feels about that; he's a loner, he's operated on his own for just about as long as he can remember now. He's particularly not sure how he feels about initing with a bunch of humans--even when he was trying to protect earth, he was trying to stay under their radar. He hasn't yet realized just how bad things could get. He hasn't yet realized that he might not have a choice. But if it comes down to it, he'll do whatever gives him the best chance at getting out of here, and getting back to his homeworld.]

I suppose so. Glacius, as mentioned previously. Since you're in the process of mapping out the city, may I make one last inquiry of that nature?

What do you need to know?

I am looking for a place to reside. Though I have no desire to live in this city for any longer than is absolutely necessary, it would not hurt to find a place where I could rest and gather my thoughts. Are there any particularly cold locations in this city?

[Now that's interesting. Hmm. She'll have to keep an eye on this one.]

The caves by the river would probably serve you best, though I can't say they'd be particularly safe.

[Way to not be suspicious at all, Glacius!] Oh? And why not? Are they filled with similar perils as to what can be found in the caves outside the city? [Because if so, he can deal with them... but that doesn't exactly sound like the best place to call his own, if he's going to constantly have to be putting up with the repeated incursion of monsters.]

Edited 2016-03-21 23:23 (UTC)

[To be fair, this is Maketh Tua. She keeps tabs on everyone.]

I would suspect so, though I haven't been able to map them thoroughly yet. You would be safer within the city perimeter.

[Except he doesn't want to be close to everyone else, for some reason. Curious.]

Noted. [Though if they weren't conversing via text, she'd hear a little bit of skepticism in that response. Safer within the city perimeter, which would put him closer to a number of humans? The species responsible for imprisoning and torturing him? Having no experience with the way things work in Hadriel, and having only the word of one person that the people here are more tolerant of outsiders, the alien is not so sure about that, yet.] Thank you for your assistance. I do appreciate it.

Contact me if you need anything else. I'll do my best to help.

Very well. I will. [That surprises him; this person has already given him information for free, and now they are offering further help should he need it? He has no idea who they are, but if he ever finds out he should keep an eye out for them. This kind of magnanimity should not go reciprocated if he can help it.]

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✘ Round 1 | [Text]

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