asgardchrysalis | AUGUST INTRO LOG: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

AUGUST INTRO LOG: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

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! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Might take a little work. We can leave it on the back burner as an idea one way or another. Might be interesting if we can find them to test what makes them tick.

[She snickered as she was following the other on their way towards Naminé's place, shaking her head and giving the most cherubic smile that she could manage. She was pretty awful at that, though, so it looked a bit more shark like.]

I did I did, but I'll behave for the moment. I think I can manage for just a little while without starting something.

Test them? [ Head tipping back to regard Terezi, ] What kind of test would it be?

[ Naminé knew just enough about gods to know one of their main traits tended to be immortality, and that certainly wasn't the sort of thing one wanted to have put through its paces. In the face of Terezi's smile, Naminé found one of her own rising; slightly crooked though it was, it probably did a better job of looking innocent than the troll's did. Way too many teeth on that girl. With a hint of playfulness, ]

Well - I guess I have no choice but to trust you. [ Considering, you know, moirails. ] You haven't been arrested yet, after all. I'm sure you can keep it up a little while longer.

That'll depend. I mean, we probably don't want to do the 'survival' test. I'm not sure it works here right, but where I come from a god doesn't just die. Well, they do, but they come right back.

Unless it's a certain kind of death, you can't hope to kill one of them. It's gotta be really specific. Obviously Just, obviously Heroic. Anything else's just going to have them back up to full, laughing at you. Amazing it didn't make them all masochists, honestly Hehe.

[She smirked and shrugged. no, that test was a little risky, if you asked her. Naminé could definitely trust her to be on her 'best behavior' while she was there at least.]

Hahaha, arrested, me? Oh man we still don't even have a prison or police. I totally have to get started on that one of these days soon. I just know we're going to need it.

No - I don't think so either.

[ Said softly, because - well, even if she were considerably more sure than she was that the subjects would survive, the trial in and of itself would be unpleasant to her. Quieting for the rest of it, Naminé waited 'til the end to add, ]

Things don't seem to work right here at all, not for anyone. I don't think even gods from other worlds would be an exception. [ Not as far as she was informed, anyway, and if anyone knew otherwise they were certainly keeping it nicely under wraps. ] But I don't know what being Just or Heroic would have to do with killing them. That's... another one of those strange things about the way your worlds work, isn't it?

[ In spite of the relatively serious topic, Naminé quirked a smile at that last bit. ]

You haven't already? [ she asked innocently, the teasing in her voice subtle. Turning to study the way before them, just to be sure they were on the right track, ] Well, you're probably right. At least - I've always heard that things like that are important.

[ Not really applicable in her own life, but important. Honestly her worlds could have used a proper (non-extinct) justice system, it was like the wild west out there. ]

It... was just a game mechanic. Kind of a weird one. And like you're guessing there? I'm not sure it works here, so it's better not to try it on anyone who I don't mind being dead...

...

And come to think of it, I mostly liked our gods back home, so we'll save that test. You know, for a special occasion, eheh.

[She shook her head a little. The state of law in this place was starting to get to her. On the one hand, nobody ever broke it, but on the other, it was only a matter of time, and the longer that they waited. The irony that she was a little trouble maker who wanted to start the legal system up wasn't entirely lost on her.]

Yeah... for now? Everyone seems to be taking it as a low priority. The town's small and the locals are quiet and docile. It might take something going wrong first...

[ It wasn't a surprise to hear the infamous 'game' was responsible, since that seemed predictable enough based on their past conversations. The part that made her frown, head turning toward Terezi, was the bit about not minding someone being dead - but the blonde let it slide for the moment, choosing in favor of, ]

'A special occasion?' [ Despite herself, there was a faint hint of humor in the echo. In an attempt at sounding stern that utterly failed, ] And what kind of occasion would that be?

[ Was that the sort of thing a moirail was meant to put the kibosh on? Naminé wasn't sure, but regardless there was also the small matter of Terezi's other observation. An accurate one, unfortunately, which left a noise not unlike a sigh caught in Naminé's throat. ]

You're right. With how things are now, I can't imagine it happening any other way.

[ Her arms folded across her middle, as if to keep in what warmth she still had, considering her state of dress. (Which was to say, her very damp dress.) ]

But it feels inevitable, doesn't it? Sooner or later, something really bad is going to happen, and they won't know what to do.

[ And there was that sense of responsibility again, rearing its ugly head. ]

Oh, I haven't decided yet. But I'm sure we can come up with a good excuse for a terrible experiment one of these days?

[She snickered. Nope. she wasn't planning on actually doing this, probably... hopefully, but she could still enjoy a laugh at the thought. She was just the sort to joke about not minding someone being croaked after all. Really, she just had an awful sense of humor.]

You're not wrong. They're preparing, but they're really taking their dear sweet time with it. It almost feels like they're relying on the gods' raw power [She grunted and shook her head, moving in to coil her arms around the folded up little nobody to offer a bit of warmth as they walked.]

Just have to keep prodding them about it, before something happens. At least then we can say we told them so.

Terezi…

[ Though her tone made an attempt at being scolding, Naminé couldn't put her whole heart (hah) into it. By now she felt at least somewhat confident in her ability to tell when the other girl was joking, and as such the blonde tilted her head with a smile rather than a proper frown. ]

Am I going to have to tell Dave you're looking for an excuse to try to kill him?

[ Sobering at the other topic, Naminé quieted thoughtfully, only to startle slightly as Terezi reached for her. That was another of those things she was starting to comprehend, however, and she offered no resistance as she was held, even lifting up an arm to very carefully return the favor. It didn't settle quite the way it ought to have, but there was a certain gratitude in the touch of her hand all the same. ]

… I'd prefer we didn't have to say that at all, but-- I'm not sure there's really another option. I suppose it makes sense, though - if the gods have always been here to protect the people, it must be hard for all of them to imagine what it would be like if they weren't able to anymore.

[She laughed uproariously when Naminé said that, holding her sides and grinning like an absolute fiend. The funny part of all this was that she had absolutely done that in some twisted game with Vriska, who was messing with John at the time. It had been a proxy headgame when they'd flirted with the guys ages ago, and Karkat had gotten soooo pissed off about it.]

Ooooh man. he would laugh so hard, and he might tell you all kinds of stories, though I don't know what he remembers exactly, hehe.

[But yeah, sober topics... She sighed and smiled as she looked off in another direction. It wasn't the most pleasant of topics, was it?]

Based on something Honir said? I'm not sure how long any of them have been here, or the gods have had bodies. Maybe not that long before we arrived. I think they might really be new. Brand new.

[ The girl startled as Terezi began to laugh, and yet soon enough Naminé found herself giggling along, softly but audibly. It was hard not to laugh in the face of such mirth, at such mirth; even not knowing what had Terezi in such a fit, it was funny for Naminé just to watch her. ]

Stories? [ she inquired, calming enough to contain her amusement. Hearing that, though - there were implications, weren't there? ] Do I want to know what kind they'd be?

[ Despite her momentary good humor, it didn't take long for her to calm, or perhaps to go a step beyond that at the troll's description. Breathing out a quiet sigh of her own, she bowed her head slightly toward the path before them. ]

… Mm. Like us coming here. [ Their presence was still a relatively recent development, after all. ] Maybe it's all part of the same thing - the same change.

[ Or the same beginning? It was odd to think about, considering how much longer all of their own worlds seemed to have been around. ]

Oh, probably none that make me look good. [Another laugh and she grinned at Naminé impishly.] But I'd do the same right back at him, ehe. That's part o the fun of being friends as many sweeps as we've been, right? You get all the dirt and the goodies on your friends don'tcha?

Yeah, I think we're all kind of tied up in it. It's sort of all the same thing, the same change, and we're just the latest part of it. Least, that makes sense to me one way or another.

[ Despite being damp and a bit on the tired side, Naminé's mouth stayed curled, rising higher at Terezi's grin. Warmly, ]

Yeah - I guess you do.

[ Somehow there was a certain amount of surety in it; though she'd never had friends before herself, she knew a thing or two secondhand about the nature of lifelong friendships. After all, Sora had known his best friends for a long time, almost longer than Naminé could properly wrap her mind around, considering the short duration of her own life so far. Amused, ]

Well, now I know just who to ask if I want the 'dirt' on you.

[ The blonde hummed her agreement, a little less somber than before as she allowed their mutual observations to sink in. ]

I'm curious, I think, to see what will happen next. If it really is all one thing, I doubt it's going to stop any time soon, and certainly not all at once.

[ Although after that dragon fiasco, 'curious' was about the nicest word she could manage for it. 'Concerned' didn't have the same ring to it. ]

Hehe that you do, that you do.

[Really? She actually didn't mind the idea of Naminé getting the 'dirt' on her from Dave. He'd put it in a way that was a better construction even if he'd likely mess with her in the process. She grinned away and chuckled to herself.]

I'm a little curious too. I mean, we have long quiet periods after all. It's bound to pick up a little, though glob knows when and how. But I'd like to think I'm good at rolling with the punches.

It's nice not having to worry all of the time.

[ She mused it aloud in an agreeable sort of tone, although there was a subtle undercurrent of a relief that suggested she spoke from personal experience. Considering how often her life was at risk in the previous portion of her existence, perhaps it was understandable. In any case, ]

Although maybe we should be. There never seems to be any warning - at least, not one that we're aware of.

[ And the gods have seemed surprised enough in their own way. Giving Terezi a sidelong smile, ]

But I'd like to think so too. If even half of what you've described to me about your worlds was like you've said it was, I'm not sure you'd have survived as long as you did if you couldn't.

[ Which was a figure of speech, really; Naminé hadn't got any reason to think the troll was being dishonest about all of those goings on. Perking slightly as she recognized a nearby landmark, Naminé let out a little, 'oh.' ]

We're almost there...!

We could work on some sort of early warning system, but I'm not quite sure how much warning we could really get, and it'd depend on the threat wouldn't it? [She snickered a little bit.] I'm not too worried about what they throw at me, though. Like you said, I've weathered a lot of crud in my time. What's one more giant monster boss?

[She grunted to herself while Sigyn's house came more or less into view of at least one of them.]

Hehe, good. Wanna get a little dried off. I don't mind being your rescuer but staying soaked's no fun is it?

[ The building certainly reached Naminé's eyes, anyway, especially because she knew precisely where to look from where they were. Her gaze stayed focused on it as they approached, but she listened carefully to Terezi's words all the same. ]

Yeah. And the kind of threats that have come here already - I'm not sure there is a way to predict them accurately. Not while so many of us are without our powers, at least.

[ Because really, given the different kinds of worlds out there, she supposed there was always a chance someone would have the capacity to know about that sort of thing in advance. It was a moot point anyway; no powers, no early warning, unless science could fill in the gap. Turning to regard Terezi, ]

No - it isn't. I knew walking around in wet clothes wasn't a good idea, but I don't think I've ever been as sure why as I am now.

[ Her dress kept sticking in uncomfortable positions, not to mention the general discomfort. As they approached the front door, Naminé seemed to have an epiphany. One that should have been obvious, but an epiphany nonetheless. ]

Oh, but-- since we'll be at my house, doesn't that mean I'll have to find you something to wear...?

[ If Terezi wanted to be free of damp clothes entirely, that was. ]

There's the tricks that they gave us, but what's smelling lies going to do for this sort of thing? Not a whole heckuva lot if you ask me. We'll have to figure something out, and maybe the tricks will get better with time?

[They were standing there at the door when what Naminé said hit her and she blinked. Wait. No, she was right. She'd have to get into something else wouldn't she? But Naminé's aesthetic was really different from her own, wasn't it? Uh... and then she'd be wearing and ...

...her cheeks colored a little and she laughed off-handedy.] Ehehehe, you've got extras and spares I hope? I don't think we're that different in height.

Tricks? -- Oh, you mean our magic?

[ Or the gods' magic, anyway. Brows raising curiously, ]

Is that what they gave you? Smelling lies?

[ Which she asked entirely for reasons of genuine interest, rather than because she had any lies to be sniffed out. It didn't suit her to be dishonest, not outright, and she had no desire whatsoever to speak untruths. With her hand already on the doorknob she paused at Terezi's question, thinking a moment. ]

A few, yes. I can't wear the same dress every day.

[ But the majority of her wardrobe, it sounded like based on the implications contained within that statement, probably involved skirts. She held the door open for Terezi, only then looking back to study her reaction. ]

I'm sure one of them will fit you. I-- hope you don't mind, but I don't think they'll be anything like what you usually wear.

[Terezi's head bobbed quickly. She never really bothered to sniff for lies with Naminé, having figured that she wasn't really the sort to lie. It just seemed way too out of character for her.]

Yeah, my nose isn't quite what it was at home, but it can still sniff out all kinds of things I'm hoping. [She giggled.] And I didn't think you actually did, but you like your whites don't you?

I... no, no I don't mind. It'll be fine. I mean, it's only for a little bit right? [And sharing clothes sounded sort of fun in its own way.]

[ Terezi's assessment was correct; despite always having plenty worth hiding, Naminé never wished to prevaricate. Did she say everything that crossed her mind? No, of course not - but what she did say was consistently true. ]

You could smell them back home, too? [ Or at least she had to wonder if that was what that meant, anyhow. Flushing slightly at the accusation, ] They're-- what I'm used to.

[ Seeing white, wearing white. At this point it was force of habit. In any case, Naminé nodded, hoping her voice was encouraging when she agreed, ]

Yes - only for a little while.

[ She kept the door held open for as long as Terezi needed to step inside, then carefully shut it. ]

My room is upstairs.

No, not exactly. I could smell lots of things about a person, and I could 'see' with my nostrils, but I couldn't actually ferret out lies in someone, so I'm pretty sure that's the version of trick that they gave me.

[She followed in, dripping all over Sigynhaus' floor in the process. Tilting he head, she grinned over at Naminé and shrugged, a bit of amusement apparent in her demeanor.]

See, and that's why I call you 'nilla sometimes. It's cause you've always got a creamy white thing going. Lead the way to the dresses!

Huh. It's still so amazing, all the things your nose can do.

[ Naminé, despite having made somewhat more of an effort to dry herself off the best she could long before they got here, wasn't immune to the occasional dripping on the nice cabin floor. It was because of one of those drops landing on her foot that she paused, glanced down, turned to look at Terezi-- and despite being distracted by the words of her moirail it still caused Naminé to re-evaluate things slightly. ]

Well - I can't say that you're wrong. But before the dresses-- wait here for a second?

[ She didn't wait herself more than a moment, considering her lack of desire to have to explain to Daenerys why the floor was warping in one particular spot. Naminé disappeared into the bathroom briefly, returned with towels, and held one out for Terezi to take. (Hopefully. Maybe she ought to have just bumped her with it, to be sure she knew it was there.) ]

Here.

My nose IS impressive isn't it? [She grinned with a bit of pride. and when Naminé spoke up, she cocked her head, nodding and waiting there. By the time that she returned, there was a small puddle there, and the troll was trying not to shiver too openly. Seriously, it wasn't that cold and she wasn't some cold blooded sea dweller, but she'd been standing there pretending for a while.

Oooh, wait, a towel! She beamed.]

Hey, thanks! Probably a good idea not to flood your bedroom right?

[And saying that, she started to finally dry off pretty furiously.]

[ Naminé, able to hear that pride, couldn't help a confirming little, 'it is,' with a hint of approval. Riku and a few others had some talented noses of their own, but they certainly didn't seem capable of filling in for sight, or doing any number of the things Terezi's could manage. (They might, however, have had her beat on range.)

And though Naminé eyes found the puddle her moirail was leaving almost immediately once she returned, a second later the blonde caught a hint of the shivering instead, and that was all the distraction she needed not to fret about the floor. She handed over the towel gladly, smiling back instinctively. ]

Of course, [ was her 'you're welcome', upon which she set to drying off as well, although perhaps with less gusto. With the ghost of a laugh, ] I'd prefer it if you didn't. I do have to share it, after all.

[ In addition to the rest of the house. As she was wringing her hair with the towel, her eyes fell again to the puddle. Multitasking was not something she was called upon to do very often before Asgard, but now - it was less awkward than it might otherwise have been to pluck a dishrag off of the nearest countertop and drop it to the floor. Pressing her foot onto it, she nudged it toward Terezi's puddle, warning a soft, ]

Careful.

[ If the troll was dry enough not to flood the place anymore - then there was no need to leave her standing in a puddle any longer than she had to, right? ]

You hare your hives? [There was a bit of surprise there. This was her first time in here.] We have small ones ourselves, but we only share the bathrooms and kitchen.

[She was busy, toweling off and trying to dry herself as best she could. At the least, the puddle wasn't growing worse at this point, so she could follow along, taking a few measured steps to not slip until she was on dry floor again.]

What floor are you on? Who's your roomie?

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