GOOD MORNING NEW ARRIVALS

This time for real!

WAKEY WAKEY.

As the storm finally peters out and characters can once again move above ground it becomes abundantly clear that the landscape has changed. Where vast expanses of sand dunes once laid is now the half-buried remnants of what looks like some sort of...city? Full of structures. It stretches so far it's really hard to tell. But there is one thing characters will notice:

There are more stasis pods.

Revealed by the sandstorm, a whole new flurry of pods can be found scattered on the way to the city (curiously though, not in it. Hurry and wake those guys up!

SPREAD THE LOVE. OR ACID.

With the departure of the storm there's even more new arrivals to be found besides those fellow travelers of yours! The "Seedlings" and "Cactus" are now both available, the former blown in by the storm and the former uncovered.

The Seedlings are generally pretty harmless. They like to burrow into the sand so only their "Leaves" plant-like leaves remain above ground, and they're quite happy to stay that way until surprised. Then they pop up and trip over themselves a little, before slowing down and wandering aimlessly. When they find a patch of sand that looks comfy they begin burrowing back down.

Pull or yank on their leaves though and you'll find yourself with a face full of pollen that makes you want to just tell everyone how super-cool they are. It lasts a while, and then you get a fever and vomit for two hours. Good times.

The Cacti are much less harmless and just...why would you eat them? Everything about this plant is poisonous, and cracking it open causes a corrosive acid-like substance to spill out. It'll eat through everything but...dirt, oddly. Metals and flesh are like hot oil on plastic.

DON'T GET LOST

And last but not least: The Forgotten City. Maybe you want to check out the Hull first for some loot, but maybe that's not such a cool idea anymore? Although it looks like the ship's definitely more powered after draining the suits of whoever went in, now it's started to spread and fill the sinkhole the ship's in. Suits can go from 100% to 0% in just ten minutes--not good!

Lucky for everyone else, it looks like finally there's some sort of civilization up ahead. Go on and check it out!

OR DO. THAT'S OKAY TOO.

Go nuts, have fun, and enjoy! (This is the wildcard option)

OOC

The Flora, Fauna & Resources page has been updated with information on the seedlings, cacti, and crystals! These items are now all available for Discovery, and The Forgotten City will be available indefinitely from now on! Characters can take this time to settle & build up a foundation for themselves, explore the area, and of course, harass those poor little seedlings.

We encourage players to make their own open posts for this setting--you don't need to stick to just this intro log! But make sure to make our newbies feel welcome!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ He sighs quietly, rolling his shoulders. Then he heads off into the desert. Far enough that no innocuous stranger will wander in and get the wrong idea but enough distance that Clark can locate the city and the others without too much trouble. ]

You can have the first blow.

[ He could make a dirty joke, but instead he just gives a throaty chuckle and a half smile, settling into himself, solid-stanced. ]

Tell me to stop and I'll stop,

[ He echoes, and then finally throws himself into it, ready to find out just what he's got himself into. It's that reason that he starts direct, wants to take a measure of the other guy's strength — and shit, it's like punching steel, which he was already doing today before people warned him not to blow everyone up. If anything his grin broadens. And he gets this look in his eyes — the same one he gets when the Boss brings him to take out another High Dragon.]

Ohhh, today is a very good day.

[ Clark cracks his neck before petting his jaw lightly.

He looks bolder, more real than he had before. The fight wasn't in him. He never felt the burn or desire but he seem to stand out more than he did before. A pale imitation to the real thing. He doesn't take a stance because Clark has never learned how to fight, always relying on his powers to help him get through.

But he's a quick learner and he hasn't wasted his time. ]

For now.

[ Suddenly he moves, in Iron Bull's space and initiates his favourite move - the flick ]

[ It's not even a punch, so Bull should be able to dodge it, but it's fast and it hurts. He reels back with the force of it, let's out a grunt, and then rocks forward again and basically throws himself at Clark, seven and a half foot of overenthusiastic fighting machine bearing down. ]

[ Clark grunts at the force, his heels digging into the sand as he's pushed back. He's still reluctant to throw an actual punch. Iron Bull didn't have any kryptonite infused weapons or powers to keep Clark's at bay. His fingers tighten into a fist before it breaks and he uses his palm to push at Iron Bull's stomach. It's a foreseeable attack and one that'll let Clark know if Iron Bull could dodge it. ]

[ Bull is nowhere near Krypton level when it comes to strength or speed, but when it comes to noticing stuff in a fight, pushing his body through maneuvers he's trained a thousand times and then used in the field a thousand more, that he's good at. So he dodges, but he also frowns, pulls his next swing; ]

You holding back on me?

I'd kill you.

[ His tone is flat. It's not courage or boasting, just simple fact. Pride has little to do with his statement. ]

Hah!

[ He gets that the other guy is serious, can feel the power in him. Takes a step backwards and rubs the sun-sweaty back of his neck. ]

Here I was holding out for a pounding.

[ He doesn't care if he gets badly beaten and it's rare to find someone who can do it, but maybe they really are so unevenly matched that there's nothing in between feeling patronized and getting dead. And it's not like the former is gonna be a workout for his guy. ]

Hrrgh. I feel like this isn't gonna work for you.

I'm sorry.

[ He's genuinely apologetic for a guy who refuses to hit you hard. ]

I don't think I can let go just yet.

Yeah, yeah, don't sweat it.

[ He waves a hand to dismiss any concern Clark has. ]

Maybe we'll find you a dragon to take on. Now that's a fight I'd like to see.

[ He tilts his head to the side, his expression rueful. ]

You might get your chance. Who knows what's out here?

[ The Iron Bull is basically a heart eyes emoji at the very thought. Dragons!!!! He gives a happy sigh and comes over to clap Clark on the ~~wall of muscle~~ arm. ]

This is the point that I'd offer to buy you a drink, but I feel like we've got more chance of the dragon.

[ Clark smiles, subconsciously relieved. He liked the man, brash as he was. ]

Give it time. Anything is possible here.

I'm getting that. Not exactly my favourite feeling in the world. When anything can happen, usually what does happen is crap.

That's how it is.

[ He can't deny it. ] So we take that and brace for it.

Somehow I get the feeling you might be better at bracing than most people.

[ Because he's strong, get it? Anyway, Bull is going to head back the way they came, so he can tell people (Dorian) all about how this dude was too strong to even be a good fight and it was deeply unfair. ]

[ His lips quirk and Clark simply shakes his head silently. ]

Maybe. But you are too.

[ A brief but booming laugh. ]

Yeah, well. I've had a lot of practice. Not like I fucked up my face at home knitting. But whatever happens, the Iron Bull is ready for it.

[ Yes, that's his name. A friendly sideways glance at Clark. ]

And glad to brace alongside you.

[ He extends his hand so that Iron Bull could shake it. ]

My name is Clark.

[ Not as great as punching each other but he'll take it. Yay friendship! ]

Intro Log: The Forgotten City

GOOD MORNING NEW ARRIVALS

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