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

[sassery]

[Honestly, the sharp glare from his father is starting to become something familiar, at this rate. At least this time it's without a potential stabbing or threat to stab. Nero's not sure if that's a good thing, as of yet.

Of course, that all gets shoved aside when he sees Vergil grab Yamato firmly, silently stepping towards the both of them, just a little. He keeps his mouth shut, but there's a definite tenseness from him, as if he's ready to jump in between the two if they start anything.

Sibling rivalries, what the fuck are they really????

Oh, but there's Vergil actually accommodating Nero into the deal, and for once, his grin actually widens at the question presented to him. A competition, huh? He's all for it.]

Obviously. [A glance at Dante.] Better start trying to catch up, old man.

[advivo]

[ The fuck is this?

When did this suddenly turn and become gang up on Dante??

He had been ready to defend his clear lead back in hell, but then Vergil had to bring Nero into it. His mouth hangs open for a moment before closing tightly, eyes narrowing into an annoyed glare as arms cross across his chest. Is the kid really siding with Vergil of all people? They can't have bonded that much while he wasn't around.

Dante scoffs, all but glaring at them both from behind the shaggy curtain of his hair. ]

Really? [ Just, really? ] I can't believe your siding with him on this.

Don't get too comfy, you won't be on your high horses for long.

[cecidit]

[ Truth be told, it comes as a surprise to Vergil as well when Nero takes his side on the matter, and there's a surprised look this time — only for a moment, before it's schooled into a smug sort of approval. ]

Tick tock, Dante. Don't fall too far behind.

[ Truthfully, he's not certain as to how Dante can catch up to a dragon. He doesn't know if there are more here, or if it was a one-off occurrence. The prospect of the latter possibility sits poorly, however; where is the fun in the competition if there is no chance for him to provide a challenge?

Still. It's nice to not have Nero's ire directed at him, for once. Vergil can't quite contain the smallest laugh, bringing up a hand to pretend he's coughing into to cover the noise.

Ahem. ]

Come, Dante. You're new here. Nero seems to have taken to the city, let him show you around.

[ Because volunteering his son to do things is what good parents do, right? And then he pauses, his eyes narrowing as they track down to see what color shows on Dante's cuffs. ]

[sassery]

[Vergil and Nero haven't bonded enough, not really. But when it comes to ganging up on Dante, or having enough pride to one-up him consistently? Nero is absolutely going to do what he can, because it's in his blood, and it's how he shows he cares.

WELCOME TO BEING IN A FAMILY, YOU TWO.]

Relax, Tyr's already told me apparently this place has a bunch of monsters and neighbors that'll keep us busy, eventually. [In case either of you were eager to fight something other than each other.] Dunno when that is, but soon, I guess.

[Oh, but- that sound from Vergil (was that a cough? He has no idea) and then the sudden volunteering to be a tour guide has him turning his glare right back at his father.]

Are you serious? It's not like your legs are broken, Vergil. [Uuuuuuugh DAAAAAD, WHY. He sighs loudly.] First off, which house did you choose? We'll start there.

[Because apparently SOME ASSHOLE CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO BE A NORMAL SIBLING. It's fine, it's fine! Nero is a cool kid so he knows all the cool hangouts, it'll be a piece of cake.]

[advivo]

[ He definitely does not like the smug look on Vergil's face, and for a moment Dante seriously considers punching him in the jaw just to get rid of it. Only for a moment, of course. ]

Yeah? Well, he isn't the only one who says that. [ Dante shifts, glancing back towards the tent as though he would spot a head of raven hair. ] A rather interesting woman told me the same thing.

[ Sooner would be better than later, especially now that the challenge has been issued. There is no way he will be able to live with Vergil lording the dragon thing over him for too long. A day, maybe, or a week. Hard to tell how long it will take before Dante just says fuck it and demand they settle this with another round of fighting.

Whatever irritation in his expression vanishes as Vergil volunteers Nero for the tour, laughter quick to bubble past his lips. ]

What house? [ He uncrosses his arms, twisting around to take a look at the bracelet around his wrist. It's gold. ] The All-father himself.

[ Yes, he knows a little about mythology okay. ]

[cecidit]

Monsters and neighbors. Doesn't that sound fun.

[ There's that insolence from Nero again, and his eyes roll as he looks quickly over to the boy. It makes sense that he'd be the tour guide, doesn't it? It's not like Vergil has any use for learning a city he intends to leave.

(Intent is different from action, though, and it grates on him that he hasn't managed to find a way out yet.)

Oh, but then Dante mentions what house he's in. Where he'll be living. Oh no. ]

Impossible. [ He grabs Dante's arm to take a closer look at the bracelet. It matches to his own, and Vergil has no idea how he feels about that. That means they'll be living together in that... dormitory. They haven't lived together since they were children.

He'll have to make a more concerted effort to find his own place to hole up in, then. ]

Did the two of you choose, or— [ How to phrase it? He'd refused, and so been claimed, a fact which makes the bracelet on his wrist feel heavier every time he thinks of it. ] Were you chosen, instead?