First.

[azumods]

ENCOUNTER 1. Your searching of the building won't be for nothing; in the end, it is a building, and buildings are wonderfully finite spaces. Eventually there's an exit, and the exit isn't sealed; in fact, compared to the impartial corridors of the rest of the place, the doorway leading out seems surprisingly professional. There's a reception desk and a small waiting area, and a vending machine in the corner - it looks the way one would expect the entrance to a professional corporation to look, as opposed to something housing the large number of strange people that seems to inhabit the building. The wind is cool as it hits your face when you make your way outside - because surely, you do want to make your way outside? - and you're greeted by a city enveloped in the darkness of late-night; the building you woke up in is elevated, overlooking the rest of the buildings below from the highest point in the city. There are cobbled steps leading down to street level proper, however, and if you want to turn to get a better look at the building once you're down there, you'll find that it's not particularly inconspicuous, all things considered. There are buildings once you're down on street level, several of them; almost all of them are dark. Whether they're abandoned, closed for the night, or simply housing sleeping occupants is a bit difficult to say at the moment; however, one building seems to be lit up brightly - isn't as massive as the place you just left but it's large enough, and perhaps most importantly there's a woman standing outside of it. She's standing tall and still, and were it not for the large amounts of blonde hair cascading down her back and framing her face, she might be difficult to see - she's dressed all in black, in a long duster coat and pants, and her arms are folded across her body as she watches the building. Her expression is calm; it's difficult to tell much else without approaching her, to see if she's exactly like everyone else you just left behind, but as soon as you approach and she's able to take a look at the rest of you... She smiles. The expression is gentle, understanding, though there's a hint of concern in her features; it easily reaches her eyes, and she tips her head while studying those of you she can see in the light from the building behind her. "Well! You are all a sight for sore eyes." When she speaks her voice is warm, affectionate in a manner that one might expect from a friend or maybe an older sister; she glances behind her, toward the lit-up building with its orange roof, before she turns back to you, beckoning you inside after her. The room you're led into is large and open, with a courtesy desk with a large set of machines behind it, and a woman stationed there as though it's her job; the blonde looks at her for a moment, pursing her lips as though bothered by something, and it isn't difficult to see why - the woman is one of the strange ones, one of the ones that don't seem to respond properly to much, stock-still and dead behind the eyes. She doesn't address her, though; she just gestures as though inviting all of you to sit - there are benches near the wall, though some of you may not mind taking the floor. There are stairs nearby, and that's where she takes up station herself, walking up a couple of steps before turning and settling on them, hands on her knees. She smiles again when she addresses you, though the expression is a little subdued. "My name is Cynthia. I'm sure you have a lot of questions; we have a lot to catch up on."

Comments

[heritrix]

Do you know where we can find them? I can't speak for everyone, but even if you tell me the city, I have no idea where I am.

[New worlds and all. Do you even have public transit??]

[semistableman]

[Butting in:]

I'd be able to navigate fairly well with just a map. I'm pretty good at reading them.

[discutio]

Good thing someone is.

[IGNIS.....]

That said, if it's a matter of traveling the wilderness I can provide a fair amount of experience in survival and building a functional camp.

[semistableman]

Just between you 'n me, we should be fine on the wilderness survival, then. Two heads are better than one and all that.

[And if anyone else has experience, that's even better.]

[discutio]

It's hardly a difficult thing to teach, as well. I should think that with a bit of effort we may even have a reasonably manageable group.

[semistableman]

More than likely.

Camping is good for the soul now and again.

[discutio]

[Ignis laughed under his breath; for just a moment it was like talking to Gladio.]

I confess it gets tiring after a while, but I suspect we'll manage.

[semistableman]

[He smiles, even if Ignis can't see it.]

I've lived off the land for a few years now. It took some getting used to; I'm still a city boy at heart, but there will be something nice about sleeping outside.

I could've picked the city if I wanted, but I was told animals can help my situation, and decided it was worth a shot.

[discutio]

I prefer civilization myself, but I think travel can be good for one's spirits. I admit I'm curious to learn more of the world we find ourselves in, and that seemed as good a method as any.

[semistableman]

It makes me wonder what kind of other creatures there are out there.

Might be kind of fun.

[discutio]

Who knows? The world is truly a place filled with wonders, after all.

[semistableman]

Yeah. That it is.

[Just don't try and attack Cyrus, bruh. He will quarterback tackle you to the ground.]

[discutio]

[oh, don't be silly]

[tactics first, murder later]

[azumods]

Don't worry, there are maps.

[semistableman]

Good. Then we're good.

[heritrix]

That's a relief.

[And listening to some of the other conversations again... Lake Valor, huh? She'll commit that to memory, for whenever she gets a hold of a map.]

Is there anything dangerous or noteworthy we should be looking out for, as we make our way to this lake?

[azumods]

Not to my knowledge. But it's been a long time since I've been there.

[eudaimonikos]

Aside from maps - is there anywhere else we can go for more information about this world in general? Some kind of library, perhaps?

[azumods]

Not in this city. There's one in Canalave City, but that's clear across the region.

[eudaimonikos]

Do you just not educate your offspring here?

[azumods]

There are schools, of course.

[???]

[eudaimonikos]

[but the schools don't have libraries...???]

Good enough.

[heritrix]

[Not even a warning to be careful of the tall grass! Mwaha, no tutorials, we live and die as men.]

Hmm. Very well. I'll rely on common sense and take appropriate precautions, but otherwise assume the threat level is low. [She nods.] Thank you.