video; un: aloy

[noratorious]

[Aloy really doesn't know what to make of all this still. Other then she's pretty much still stuck in the no what is this this is bad let me out phase. Though she's at least able to tuck that down and grit her teeth and get to work, like she's always done. Hey some things never change.

But that means she needs people to give her work. And they're not running up to her as usual. So she decides to use this... network to do a little digging. So here's a young woman with braids in her red hair and distinctly unusual, almost tribal, clothing.]

So. They told me in order to get back home, home to where I was kind of in the middle of something I might add, I have to do community service. [She frowns at the phrase. It just seems wrong even though she has made a name for herself back home basically doing just that.] So, does anyone have something for me to do? A Grazer heart or two to retrieve? Fight off a pack of Stalkers to get back your missing cargo? Clear out a Glinthawk nest that's been attacking your settlement? [She pauses and then pinches her nose in frustration as the realization hits her.]

Aaaand, no one is going to know what those things are. Right.

So, uh, I guess if you need... someone to collect things for you? Or find a missing person. Or find out why everyone in this area was violently murdered and you ask me, a stranger, to figure it out? Or maybe just help someone cross the road. I've... got a range since somehow this ended up being something I do. Help strangers with their problems.

[She shrugs a little and falls quiet for a second. There's more to say, she has so many questions and concerns and just suspicions about all of this. So she decides just to ask it.] So if we're really all from different worlds ...Does everyone come from a place like this? Tall buildings? Technology everywhere? It's like the world of the Old Ones back home.

Comments

Voice - @lolococo416

[threatenwithcuteness]

This is pretty close to how my home is. Well... not the city surrounded by woods filled with monsters. Or the portal bringing in people from other worlds or whatever. Or all the people ready to fight monsters. And this place has a lot of cool festivals. Even if the last one was kinda dour and sad.

But other than all that it is kinda like home.

[noratorious]

Monsters?

But they're not machines, right?

[threatenwithcuteness]

I dunno, I don't really go out there. I'm not really much for getting attacked by scary things.

But I'm pretty sure if they were machines someone would have, like, rebooted them or called tech support about them.

@dodger/audio

[smokedout]

I might have some uses for you, but that depends on how much you're willing to trust me.

[Ah, Dodger. Always greeting people in the shadiest way possible.]

There are monsters out beyond the city, so escort missions and pelt-hunting aren't out of the question. But if you're more into collecting things, there's some fireflies around the edges of the city and just beyond the walls that I wanna get my hands on before everyone manages to kill 'em off. I can pay you a dollar per bug for the trouble.

[noratorious]

Let's say "probably not at all" but give it a shot anyway.

[Okay. That's... interesting. She's gotten some weird requests before but this one is pretty out there.]

Are fireflies in danger of going extinct here or something? Or are you just really bad with a net?

--> video

[smokedout]

They're not from this reality - in fact I can't find any information on them, so I'm working off what I've been able to figure out on my own.

[He switches on the video feed - it doesn't show his face, but she'll be able to see the tattoos along his arms, the gauze on his wrists and the jar in his hands. Inside the jar are a few red fireflies, glowing brightly and buzzing around the glass.]

They're tricky to catch, and if they sting you you'll be feeling it for days. Their venom has some sort of emotional reaction - don't know how or why, but each color's got its own fun ways of fucking with your head. I've got my hands full studying the ones I've got, but they're starting to die out and I want as many of 'em as I can get before I lose my shot.

video | un:moogles

[carrotkeeper]

[Iris doesn't have any sidequests for her, but she can answer the last couple questions.]

Tall buildings, technology-you name it. Crown City had it all, but my whole world wasn't like that.

[From the sounds of it, this girl doesn't come from a similar place. She's definitely curious about it.]

What kinda place are you from?

[noratorious]

The sacred lands.

[A beat.]

Which doesn't mean much to anyone here. But there's no buildings like that anymore. Most of them are rubble now. Or there's just a skeleton left.

[carrotkeeper]

[There are a few reasons she can think of as to why the buildings are no longer standing and none of them are good. She's hoping they were just abandoned.]

What happened to them?

Video @Morgan.Knight

[morganknight]

I have no idea what those things are, but your descriptions made them sound pretty badass.

[Morgan offers a lazy grin; the man can't help but flirt just a little. But the smarm dissolves quickly, replaced by sympathy.]

I've seen a fair share of people have to adapt to a new world with a new technology level in my time, so if you need some help adjusting I'd be happy to offer what I can.

[noratorious]

If nearly getting your face ripped off by a huge machine sounds badass, then yeah, they are pretty badass.

[She can't really imagine anyone viewing a machine like the Sawtooth with wonder. It's like being impressed by a wolf about to pounce on you.]

I've used some technology in my time. I'm not totally helpless. But I guess I won't say no to free advice either. ... It is free, right?

[morganknight]

One word makes all the difference. Getting your face ripped off by a huge machine? Not badass. Nearly getting your face ripped off by a huge machine? Badass.

[It's only stupid till it works, right?]

Absolute free advice offered, no obligations, contracts, or EULAs. I'm taking it you have experience with technology, but much less understanding of it?

un: username.here; video

[song_of_ice]

...I didn't know there was a way home. There is something there I have to do as well.

[He should have thought to ask about that, but was too surprised by the stark differences of this world and home.]

I haven't seen anything like this place before.

[noratorious]

If only they could ask people if they're busy before kidnapping them and putting them in quarantine. Just to make sure we're not in the middle of anything important. If I'd been in the middle of trying to stop someone who's going to cause a lot of trouble, it'd be pretty inconvenient.

[NOT THAT SHE'S BITTER OR ANYTHING.]

People just use technology here freely. And it's everywhere. I never really imagined a place like that.

[song_of_ice]

Or about to face a large army and in the process of finding more allies and men. [He's right there with you, but stated without any sarcasm.] But is there ever a good time to be taken from your world into another? There are bad and then there are worst times.

[Like theirs. Theirs was the worst possible timing.]

They use it like it is needed in their lives. I still don't see the point.

video | @2b

[howlongiwonder]

I don't need anything like that. I'm sure you will find something however. I can relay information related to ongoing assignments and requests for assistance that were brought up recently.

[2B tries to sound matter of fact, but there's a certain degree of embarassment in her voice. She's used to helping others, saying she has nothing to those who want to help her is a new experience.]

As for the world I know, it bears some similarities to this place.

The ruined part of the city, mostly.

[noratorious]

Where I come from, you can't even tell they're cities anymore. Even the ruins have been ruined.

[Haha. Dark jokes help you survive, right?]

I appreciate it though. I'll take whatever I can get and can handle pretty much anything.

@endsoftheearth, voice;

[earthy]

Grazer hearts...?

[Between that and the violently murdered bit, Terra's feeling just a little... unsure... here, but this person's trying to work their way back through the portal, too, so he pushes himself to go on. He might be able to help.]

If you walk the streets, you can usually find somebody in need of some kind of assistance. And I think dispatching monsters beyond the fences counts as more community service. [He sure hopes it does, anyway.] Did they offer you a job when you first got here, Miss?

[noratorious]

Uhh, they're huge machines with antlers. Travel in packs. We use their hearts to craft materials.

[She gestures to her head to indicate said antlers.]

They did. Perimeter guard. But I gotta get out of here fast so if more work means quicker return, I'll do more work. And... no Miss, it's just Aloy.

un: melusina » voice

[yorkist]

There are several people I have met whom call worlds with advanced technology home.

( Hers is not one of them, as her statement infers. )

To be here is a wonder for me.

I suppose my experience is in direct opposition to that of most, as I do not wish to return whence I came.

[noratorious]

...You must come from a pretty rough place. Or just be really bored back there.

voice / @pro.fisherman

[heavyhead]

[This isn't the first person Noctis has encountered who isn't used to all this technology, and he imagines she won't be the last. But honestly he's here for stranger quests, not to talk about buildings, so—]

Helping strangers— you too, huh? You ever need a second set of hands, I'm pretty good at that stuff.

[noratorious]

Well. I'm glad I'm not the only one with a face that seems to inspire everyone tell me their problems and then want me to solve.

I usually work alone but... having an extra hand sometimes can't hurt.

voice ; @altin

[bringbackgold]

My home is similar. No creatures, though.

What are Stalkers and Grazers?

[noratorious]

Machines that roam out in the wild. They didn't use to be hostile but they've been pretty dangerous over the past few years.

...It's kinda hard to imagine people have lives that don't revolve around avoiding them.