Video: UN - JustD

[distant_one]

[The video isn't of D, but instead a carefully drawn map of Trench and its close surrounding areas with rough lines indicating the tunnels. The video zooms back to show a rough outline of a path leading from Trenchwood further inland, denoted as '30 miles' and then a point circled and labeled as 'outpost lantern'.]

Earthquakes and underground tunnels last month, and severe storms this month. If this city sinks into the ground or is washed away, there's nowhere to go.

[D puts another sheet of paper down in front of the video, this one showing a rough outline of ruined building and some sketched in structures and a perimeter wall.]

Last month, Manabu Yuuki led an expedition, this lantern point is as far as we went before we had to return. The wilds are full of aggressive plants and animals, high levels of corruption, and even the plants that don't attack will probably kill people.

But this is a chance to make an outpost. Every time I've gone out there I've come under attack almost immediately, but if we made it that far, we can make this work too.

I'm looking for anyone who can and will fight, anyone who can aid in building fortifications to make defenses easier, and anyone with the ability or knowledge to provide magical protection and reduce corruption, or who can provide supplies and support.

I'll provide food and shelter or items for trade to anyone who works on turning this outpost into a haven.

My name is D. I'm setting up a staging point for people and supplies in the house near the Watch Tower with the red door and cloth banners. Contact me here, or look for me there between mid afternoon and sundown.

[OOC: Plotting post for this open and approved player plot here and location post and information here. An open log post will be going up sometime in the next week.]

Comments

[umbraportation]

[ He doesn't know if he'll have that kind of role here, but Nico wouldn't mind. ]

How brief of an encounter? I'm not afraid of death, but if there's enough time that I can shadow travel out, that'd be great. Yeah, I heard that from some others.

[ Nico intends to look into all the patrons, at the very least. Wouldn't want to offend one of them because he's lacking knowledge. ]

[distant_one]

I haven't died here yet, but I think you have to spend some time as a squid before you wake up and regain your abilities.

[umbraportation]

[ A hum. ]

Guess that'd be one way to get some of my questions answered.

[ Ones that others might not be able to. ]

[distant_one]

Or find more questions.

[umbraportation]

[ A small sigh. ]

Or that, yeah. Preferably, I'd like to catch up on all my questions before getting new ones.

[distant_one]

Life and death usually don't give us what we prefer.

[There's a faint hint of humor in D's words. But they've had enough of a demonstration so he turns to walk back towards the lamp so he can get out of the rain.]

Anything else I should know?

[umbraportation]

Usually, no.

[ Sometimes, Nico gets something he wasn't expecting to get. He'll follow after. ]

There's a few things. Waking nightmares, ambrosia, shadow travel. Take your pick.

[distant_one]

Unless the other two are also something you can't control... waking nightmares?

[umbraportation]

[ Nico raises a hand and wobbles it - in a so-so manner. ]

Ambrosia is healing stuff for demigods, not to be given to mortals as it'll burn them up. I'm mostly in control of where I shadow travel, but it's probably the most draining of my abilities. With all the teleport lamps around, I won't need it as much.

[ There's a pause at the last one, though. A contemplative silence. ]

A recent thing. Basically, nightmares even when I'm awake. I haven't hurt anyone, but I'm disoriented after, can't tell friend from foe.

[distant_one]

Are you in a dream state or is it flashbacks?

[D has encountered some very strange 'dreamers' who did very interesting things and seemed very awake while they were asleep. If Nico is similar and becomes a dream while he's in a waking dream things could be complicated.]

[umbraportation]

Flashbacks. I have a little dreamwalking ability, but these aren't something I can control.

[ He's tried. Nico tries to steer his actual dreams away from nightmare territory, so these hit him like a ton of bricks. ]

[distant_one]

I'll keep that in mind. Take one of the bedrooms on the top floor in the coffin.

If you get out of control, would you prefer I put you into a dreamless sleep or let you work through it?

[D unconcerned either way as long as Nico isn't endangering people while he's having a flashback. Things like this are complicated enough in humans and even more so for hybrids like them with their supernatural abilities influenced by their emotions.]

[umbraportation]

Yeah, okay.

[ Probably better to be above ground, where he can see the sunlight. ]

If I'm in public, and it looks like I might do damage to people, you can put me under. Otherwise, I think I need to work through it.

[ Nico feels the same, in that he doesn't want to hurt people. He's never had dreamless sleep before, but it's better than the alternative. ]

[distant_one]

[It's always daytime in the coffin, so there's plenty of fake sunlight to go around in there.]

Alright.

[Time to circle back around to the last topic he has questions about since it sounds like shadow walking isn't an accidental thing and can be discussed later.]

Ambrosia. Do you have some with you or was that just a hypothetical concern.

[umbraportation]

[ He'll find himself some nice blackout curtains for sleeping.

It's not accidental starting out, though the location could be. ]

I do. Six pieces. I'll keep one on me and the rest in my room. It doesn't work well on me when I've used my powers too much, but works fine with all extents of injuries.

[distant_one]

[D nods in response to the information. It's not particularly relevant to him and he's unlikely to either benefit or suffer from it.

As he's run out of questions, D simply lapses into silence for the rest of the walk back.]