AUGUST INTRO LOG: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

[asgardmods]

Who: EVERYONE
What: the August intro log and first god house competition, More Than Meets the Eye
When: August 8
Where: Gladsheim Palace for breakfast, around Asgard for the game/curse
Rating: PG-13; please take anything higher than this to a private log!

morning: a warm invitation

Everyone wakes up to a friendly invitation to breakfast at the castle with the gods. For most of you, this comes as a message on your bracelet, reading:

Join us at the castle today to welcome some new Wanderers into our midst. Breakfast will be served and a lively game will be available to all of our guests, both new and old.

New Wanderers are curious on their own, and this is the first there's ever been mention of a game. Perhaps it's enough for you to make the trek to the castle, to see what all the fuss is about, or maybe even to see if there's someone you know. Perhaps you want to learn more about the game, or maybe you just want the food.

For our new guests, this comes as a bit more of a surprise. Wherever you were before in your world, without even realizing it, you wake up in a strange new place. No time or space inbetween, just an awareness of There and then Here. A matronly figure tries to explain your circumstances with a sympathetic smile, but ultimately invites you meet them all for yourselves: the Gods of Asgard, and the Wanderers that arrived before you.



The sight that greets you on the castle grounds is a rather festive one, regardless of where you're coming from. Colorful streamers and flags are draped above large tables with room for several guests. Natives bustle about, cheerfully offering food and drinks to anyone that wants some. Everyone is welcomed to mingle and greet the new Wanderers on this bright summer morning.

the game: a friendly competition

Among the brightly decorated tables are ones highlighted in a specific color for a specific god house, and most of the gods themselves can be found sitting behind it with a few of their district's natives. They are here to welcome the new Wanderers into Asgard - but they're also here to explain the rules of today's game. There are coins hidden throughout the city and disguised as mundane items, and the god house that returns the most of their coins will win an upgrade to their god housing! No hints will be given, but the natives are excited to help facilitate the activity and happily invite you to wander through their districts to find what you can.

But you don't have to know about the rules to be playing the game! The coins are already hidden throughout the city, and no one knows what they are until they've been picked up. Whether you're banding together with friends to find as many coins as you can or blindly stumbling over an unpleasant surprise, the game and the curse are in full swing!

evening: a fair prize

At sundown, all of the coins in the city disappear at once, whether they're in your pocket or still disguised as a bowl. Points will be tallied and a winner will be announced (OOCly, on August 17) - but Asgardians are keen to celebrate regardless of who wins a rather inconsequential game. The same colorful display of tables and chairs is still spread across the castle grounds, although now they twinkle with fairy lights haphazardly blinking throughout the air. Snacks and drinks are made available, as well as more dinner-shaped meals for those that request it. Mostly the natives simply want to bask in the strangeness of these Wanderers from other worlds for a moment longer - but they're also eagerly listening to any stories from the day's mischievous game. Relax, enjoy yourself, or again, just stock up on some freely served food. Whatever suits your needs today. Welcome to Asgard, dear Wanderers.

[ OOC NOTE: This is the intro log for August, as well as our first god house competition/curse: More Than Meets the Eye. You are free to play with the curse prompts and searching the city in any way you want! If you would like to submit a map to earn points for your god house, please check out the rules to learn what to do. We will accept maps until August 17, at which point a winner will be announced and members of that god house will be allowed to vote for an upgrade to their god housing. As always, please let us know if you have any questions or need any help on the mod contact page. Enjoy, friends! ]

Comments

castle.

[advivo]

[ He'd have to be deaf not to hear the commotion though a lot of what Dante more or less ignores - except some mention of not being a pawn and a name. Lucifer. Now, why does that sound so familiar?

Either way Dante can't help but clap loudly at the end of a tangent, leaning against an unoccupied table. It's a slow clap, obviously sarcastic, loud enough for almost the entire room to hear. ]

Oh, bravo. You really told them there.

[turnanythingon]

[ That was enough to earn a scowl. As much as he wanted to claim it was meant for any of the "Gods" who were present, it was also very much a performance. Mostly to keep his mind off the fact that he'd been kidnapped to an entirely different world. Against his will. When he'd already made it clear he intended to stay in LA. ]

I would have done a lot more than merely tell them, but the cowards have stolen away my... [ He glanced down at the glass in his hand, squeezing it hard in frustration. It should have shattered as if it were made out of sugar. ] ...everything!

[advivo]

[ It isn't as though Dante doesn't sympathize with him, he does really. But throwing the equivalent of a temper tantrum of a two year old? Probably not the best way to address the situation. Although no one should take Dante's advice on how to deal with a situation like this. ]

Welcome to the club. I take it this is your first time being human?

[turnanythingon]

[ Excuse you, throwing a tantrum is the best way to address any situation. It's very cathartic. ]

I'm not human! I'm just...inconvenienced. And painfully mortal. Which would be far more tolerable if there were a single drop of alcohol to be found at this sad excuse for a party!

[advivo]

Mortal, human. Practically the same.

[ Unless you're a stickler for those sort of things. Vergil is and Dante has a sneaking suspicion that this guy is too. What was his name again? Lucifer. It just sounds so damn familiar. ]

Well, I can agree with you there. What I would do for a whiskey right about now.

[turnanythingon]

[ He refuses to accept that any celestial could ever be anything close to human. That's one lesson he hasn't quite learned, yet. ]

It is NOT the same! [ If he had his powers, this would be where the red eye flare would go. Instead, he's just really pissed. ] I am the Devil! I could never be human!

[advivo]

[ A God fearing man would crumble, likely shriek and cower away from someone claiming to be the Devil. But Dante? No. In fact all he does in the face other Lucifer's anger is tilt his head, before suddenly a light goes off in his head. ]

Lucifer! [ Hands claps together and a grin spreads across face. ] The good old Morningstar himself. Gotta say, you're a shorter than I thought you'd be.

[turnanythingon]

[ In Lucifer's experience no one really cowered or ran away unless he was able to pull something out of his back of tricks. But it was hard to flash something demonic or non-human when he was...well, human. It was the joys of living in Los Angeles in the modern day, most assumed he was an actor or just someone eccentric. Which is why he seemed only mildly irritated by Dante's reaction. ]

The stories have made more than a few exaggerations. Don't go expecting horns or a tail, either.

[advivo]

[ Dante seems to notice the irritation, giving him another look over. ]

There stories often do. [ Case and point: The Order's depiction of Sparda. ] They failed to mention you throw temper tantrums like a child.

[turnanythingon]

[ He flat out wants to ask if he's ever heard of something called The Bible. ]

I don't throw tantrums. I make my opinions known! That they DO write stories about, more or less accurately. I hear one even made it into a rather popular book.

[advivo]

Oh, so that─ [ He waves his hand about. ] ─was you making your opinions known. By yelling.

[ The doubt comes off him in waves; arms crossed, head tilted, and leaning back against the edge of this table. ]

Books aren't really my thing, I much rather first hand experience.

[turnanythingon]

[ Just how dense was this guy? ]

I'm afraid you're a bit too young and missed out on this one, seeing as it happened not long after the beginning of time.

[advivo]

Some on us don't grow up with handy biblical texts nearby, on account of daddy dearest being more demon than human.

[ Dante shrugs. ]

Still can't always believe what's written in books, people love to embellish.

[turnanythingon]

[ Out of fear of sounding like his therapist, that had to be a metaphor, right? There were no demons copulating with humans except for Mazikeen. And there were certainly no partial demons. It wasn't possible for that to happen. So he assumed Dante just meant a human so awful he seemed demonic. ]

Yes, that is a nasty habit you humans tend to have. Especially when it involves me.

[advivo]

[ Dante laughs, arms uncrossing to prop himself up as he leans laugh. ]

Oh, that's good. That's real good. You think─ [ Another laugh and he shakes his head. ] ─Oh Luci, it had nothing to do with you. And my father was an actual demon.

[turnanythingon]

[ Well, that makes him stop, because that's VERY concerning. ]

That's literally impossible.

[advivo]

Proof's standing in right in front of you.

[ In all his glory. ]

I can find my brother as well if you want.

[turnanythingon]

[ He just stared at the man. How was his presence or a sibling proof of anything? At least Lucifer busted out something when he really needed proof. ]

Of course there's two of you. No. Tell me who you think your father is. What order of demon?

[ He could see a demon sneaking out and stealing a baby. That's a Dromos level move. True idiocy. ]

[advivo]

My father was the Dark Knight Sparda. [ Funny once upon a time he would've probably cursed the man. ] As for what order of demon? You're guess is as good as mine.

But, I wouldn't be surprised if you never heard of him. I've got a feeling you won't.

[ And it has nothing to do with the fact he has a Devil Arm made of Lucifer's soul back home. Not here, of course, the only Devil Arm he has is on the one on his back. The big one. ]

[turnanythingon]

The Dark Knight Sparda?!

[ He said it with as much incredulity as if Dante had said his father was Spongebob Squarepants. Lucifer knew all of the demons in hell, at least by name. And he'd certainly know one who'd given himself a title like THAT. ]

Who does he think he is, bloody Batman?

write this tag 4534890 times

[advivo]

[ It isn't the most intimidating name he can admit, though it someone sounds even less so the way Lucifer says it. ]

Can't say I know. Might had given up the capes and spandex but kept the name.

[turnanythingon]

[ The last thing Lucifer needed was demons getting bigger egos and giving themselves ridiculous titles like "The Dark Knight." ]

So what's that make you? Robin?

[advivo]

[ He snorts, crossing his arms once more. ]

No, rather die to wear spandex. The names Dante.

[turnanythingon]

[ He soft of rolled his eyes, gesturing at the man as if to say "of course." He's already met Vergil who mentioned a Dante. He should have connected the dots. ]

As in the Inferno. Yes, I've already met your "cleverly" named brother.

[advivo]

As in the Inferno. [ He laughs, leaning forward slightly. ] The Old man's sense of humor, mostly likely.