[network] @ADMIN; Arrival

[snowblindmods]

Welcome to Norfinbury. The time is E̛̬̞͖͖̫R҉͖̯̬R̼̻͉̰͎̳̙O̩͓͔̫͇͈̯R and the date is E̛̬̞͖͖̫R҉͖̯̬R̼̻͉̰͎̳̙O̩͓͔̫͇͈̯R. This network has been provided for your use. Please interact politely with everyone else on this network.

Comments

@masterneloth; video;

[telvanni]

Oh, no no no no. No, this won't do at all.

[ The incredibly snooty voice is soon accompanied by an incredibly snooty face as Neloth holds his tablet at arm's length, turning it over and around in different directions so that the video feed lurches wildly. When he finally stops fiddling with it, the network is provided with an off-centre view of a grey-skinned, pointy-eared, red-eyed old man with more wrinkles than a vat full of shar-pei puppies.

He looks mildly peeved. Just a bit. ]

I fully understand the necessity of a good old-fashioned kidnapping now and then - engaged in a touch of it myself back in the third era, as was the style at the time - but really, now. The broken furniture, the dust, the horrid little communications device... It's all so very uninspired.

I have several demands. Firstly, I submit that you also abduct my servants and bring them to me forthwith. As they are useless in almost every way possible, I will grudgingly accept replacements. Secondly, I would very much like to discuss the means by which you have disabled my magic. I've been doing research on similar subjects myself, as I'm sure you're aware, and I believe that pooling our knowledge would be beneficial to both of us.

[ The irritation drains from his expression for a moment as he contemplates all that lovely knowledge, then returns tenfold in the form of a scowl. ]

Lastly, you took my canis root tea. I dearly hope that this was an innocent mistake on your part and that it will be returned immediately, or, well. Things could get rather ugly.

@hexappeal, Voice

[sleight_of_fate]

[Considering he's covered with freaky red glowing tattoos, he's not going to freak the guy out, so voice-chat it is!]

Yeah, they aren't real big on amenities here. You're not going to get your servants, unfortunately, unless you can bargain with someone to do the job.

...you probably aren't going to be able to get someone to do the job. You aren't getting your magic back, either. We're prisoners, we don't get nice things.

[He's totally not enjoying punching holes in this guy's demands list. Really.]

You might be able to get some tea, though. It won't be...canis root? But it will be tea. You'll just have to either scavenge or trade for it.

Or beat someone up for it.

[telvanni]

[ Neloth's expression gets progressively more sour by the moment. No, this is still entirely unacceptable. Completely. The voice coming from the device doesn't sound like a fellow dunmer, so it's not that surprising that he's so ignorant, but still...

Maybe if he just speaks more slowly. ]

I don't think you quite understand. I am not a mere prisoner - I am Master Neloth of Great House Telvanni, and those were demands. Not requests. There is a subtle difference that those of the lower orders sometimes can't quite comprehend. Scavenge. Like a lowly acolyte scrabbling around Vivec's underthings. The very idea.

@motherserpent | video | cw religious extremism; murder in the name of religion

[motherserpent]

[The woman who appears on the screen is covered in unnatural red lines that take the form of fractals, her eyes clouded over in the same red. Also, she has a feathered snake on her shoulders and an imperious look to match that of the gray man.]

I am Tess, Goddess of the Search, Mother Serpent, Child of Ragnarok, and Lifeblood of the Wayward, and I will make you an offer because you look like you might actually have the stomach for it. Kill in my name and paint the blood in the shape of this mark.

[She gestures at something stained into the wall behind her, between plaques set up to honor the dead.]

If it brings me back to power, I will see you returned to your rightful place. If it does not, or if you just don't even try...well, welcome to Norfinbury, hope you enjoy living here for the next couple months.

[telvanni]

[ Ooh. The device does pictures both ways! It still isn't as ridiculous brilliant as using a Mouth for long-distance communication, but. Needs must, and this particular picture is at least mildly interesting. The markings on the woman don't strike him as especially unusual, but it's odd to see a non-dunmer with red eyes. And the serpent! Marvellous.

For the record, by "marvellous" he means "wanna vivisect that thing." ]

An impressive selection of titles, assuming they aren't mere fabrications. I trust you have some form of proof of your status? I am no stranger to making deals with gods. It's just that usually, they're less prone to admitting that they're currently powerless. Surely you must understand my skepticism.

@zd; voice

[swatsflies]

Mastern Eloth? [ he's more focused on the username. ] Also what's a canis root tea? As in dogs and wolves?

[telvanni]

[ Boethiah's balls. Three questions. Three questions and Neloth has already decided that he dislikes this zee dee with a marked level of intensity. He sounds young. And stupid. He's probably the type of person who smiles a lot and genuinely, unironically believes in the power of friendship.

Eeurgrhrgh.

Neloth isn't subtle, and he's still using video, so his immediate revulsion shows up on his face as he dangles his tablet just a liiiiittle bit further away from himself. ]

Master. Neloth. And canis root tea is tea made from ground canis root. It is dark, bitter, and is disliked by children.

[ JUST LIKE NELOTH ]

@featherydouche; text; (I'm sorry for this terrible bird)

[mrcreamsicles]

wow youre fugly
did you cultivate those wrinkles one by one or do you come by them naturally

@headjacked; video;

[headjacked]

I’m... sorry, everyone, c-can we back it up a little bit to the whole you were totally involved in recreational abduction thing? Like? That might be concerning?

[ Even if it has been brought up, it bears repeating. The hot mess on Neloth’s screen with the glowing blue eye gesticulates wildly, as if he’s addressing everyone on this post and not just the wrinkly gray dude.

And, you know. Mania. ]

How much is a ‘touch’, and WHY?

@beyonce | audio

[thewarningafter]

[People, why. What are you all doing? At least Rhys is actually helping the guy out, kind of -- and okay, Master Neloth sounds kind of obnoxious, but Stephen feels an urge to help the newbie all the same. There's a sigh in his voice.]

Greetings, Master...Neloth, right? I'm Doctor Stephen Strange, Master of the New York Sanctum.

[And yet he doesn't quite resist the urge to title-drop.]

I see Rhys has already sent you the basic guide; you'll find a few additional resources attached to this message. You can use the map and list of buildings to orient yourself. I strongly suggest reading the guide you were provided; there are a great number of things here that can kill you very quickly.

And...please, don't listen to the blood goddess; that's the last thing we need right now.

[Stephen attaches his list of resources, which does indeed include a map and a building guide. It also includes a link to a census marked as having been created by Stephen and with Neloth's name already on it.]

@betterhalf; video

[darkincrement]

[ Wrinkles upon wrinkles? Check.
Pointy ears? Check.
Is down for kidnapping? Check.
Master in his name? check.

There's an uncomfortable lurch in his stomach, and he feels the color drain from his face as he looks at the screen. He looks enough like someone he knows. ]

M-master?

[ And then the tablet is thrown across the room quickly. NOPE

Ventus does not want part of this shit crap. ]

@Enoch; voice

[warriorscribe]

[The voice that answers him is perfectly polite, if, well. Puzzled.]

I'm sorry, you're used to abductors indulging your demands?

@clowncutie92; voice

[clowngirl]

How much kidnappin' experience could you have if you think the person bein' kidnapped gets to make the demands?

@totheark; text

[0thingsonmymind]

can is



dogtea
?

@PetertheGreat, video

[zunesareawesome]

[This is a video of a guy with blank red eyes and red lines all over his face, entirely too much of a scruff game going on, and is wildly grinning because this is going to be so much fun.]

Well I do say! What's all this then? What's this nonsense harrumph hum bum hrmph?

[This is his best approximation of the most snootiest voice he can muster.]

The tea? It's not here? Inconceivable! Incomprehensible! Unnecessary! Unacceptable!

@Technicalities; video

[tadashiwashere]

[When Tadashi bolts awake, there's a clawing pang of terror deep in his gut. The pitch-black interior of the bodybag only seems to make the panic clamp down around his nerves more firmly. He claws at the inside -- finally finds the gap in the zipper -- and lunges to a sitting position to heave in deep gasps of air.

Looking around, he has no memory of this place. But he knows where he is.

Norfinbury.

As he squirms fully away from the bag and hits the floor feet-first, the chime of his tablet brings Tadashi's attention back to his personal effects. Gingerly, he lifts the tablet and hits the video function. The feed cuts in with a view of Tadashi Hamada, back from the dead at last. In the background, the hospital morgue is visible for all to see -- sterile, oppressive.]

Is anyone out there? Hiro? Al? Za--

[The concern on his face etches deeper as Tadashi realizes something has gone wrong. He knows the names. Knows the faces. But everything else? It's just... gone.]

@standardissue; video

[deus_ex_phs]

[It's been months since he's heard Tadashi's voice. Months since that night that still haunts his memories sometimes, even with all the other things that have happened since then. He almost doesn't recognize Tadashi's voice, it's been so long and it's so unexpected.

But he knows that username.]

Tadashi?!

[Surprise, followed by warmth, and a sudden rush of hope.]

Welcome back!

audio; @dreamsnhonor

[heroproceeding]

[ Zack's been busy at least. And being busy means not thinking too hard about what if's and how comes and all of that other stuff. It doesn't make sleep come any easier there, but it did come the night before if in brief, shallow waves- back and forth, back and forth.

He's only finally roused by the blinking of his tablet signifying more new messages on the network. And after considering it and then considering the group sleeping around him, Zack scoots far enough away to find his own space away from the others to catch up on things. He's been doing a poor job of that lately and he really ought to...

And maybe he's also used to the rhythm of things by now, maybe he also expects the call of the unknowing at this time. The new, confused people.

He doesn't expect a message from him.

He watches it again- and again. And once more just to maybe think he's really not going crazy. He still feels like he's going crazy anyway and watches it one more time for good measure. Then reacts before the rest of his brain catches up to him. ]

Tadashi?

@Enoch, voice

[warriorscribe]

It's been a long time. Welcome back.

[Enoch may not have spoken with Tadashi more than once or twice. But there's something about him being a fellow early-waver, something that compels him to reach out anyway.]

@LELRIC; video

[armoured]

[Al hears that voice and he genuinely thinks he's dreaming for a long moment, it's only when he rolls over and sees his tablet actually displaying Tadashi's face that he scrambles into action. He's clumsy with the controls for how desperate he is, but eventually he gets the video turned on.]

Tadashi?!

[How is this possible? It's been so long.]

You-- you're really here, and you know who I am, and-- I've missed you so much.

@zd; voice

[swatsflies]

[ He recognizes all two and a half names! And he knows he's seen that username before. Zell had just arrived the last time he's ever seen it on the network though. That was a really long time ago.

Congrats, Tadeadnomore, you hold the record for longest time anyone has been in the morgue. ]

Um, hey. [ His voice is quiet as he prepares for sharing, but gets Mochirrupted. There's a series of meows because someone recognizes that voice and sees a face on the screen. ]

Huh? What's wrong, Mochi?

@hotstud_xxx; text

[rubikscomplex]

any chance we can get a trade-in on your brother?

[Hi, Hiro's brother, House doesn't really know you, which makes you the less preferable one.]

@PetertheGreat, audio

[zunesareawesome]

[After skimming through other people's responses, it looks like this guy was here before, and a long time ago at that. That gives him serious amount of hope.]

Hey dude, I'm Peter Quill, people call me Star-Lord. I got here...jeez, how long ago was that. It feels like forever... [For multiple reasons and because of fake-memories, so he waves a hand and goes on.] Anyway. Don't listen to House, he's an asshole. He ain't happy unless he's upsettin' people.

Listen, if you need music or wanna trade for it, I've got 300 of Norfinbury's finest songs. The very best in town.

And uh...sorry about your brother.

@totheark; text

[0thingsonmymind]

*He's been over the other threads here and has picked up one one very important thing.*

youknow
mo chi
?

@jphawkins, video

[rattlingthestars]

[ A little while later, Tadashi gets a message from yet another face that seems to remember him. ]

Holy crap.

[ He's heard the conversations Zack, Kunsel, and Zell have been having, but he didn't quite believe it until he saw for himself. It's been nearly a year; he doesn't think anyone's come back after that long. ]

-I guess you don't remember me either, but. I can't believe you're back. It's good to see you.