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Thank you for using the General Acoustics AutoSec transcriber. Start-up sequence complete. Beginning playback… [ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION. ] [ PLATES, GLASSES CLATTERING. ] [ SOUND OF FEEDBACK, FINGER TAPPING ON MICROPHONE. ] CHAIRMAN: Everyone, everyone, please, may I have your attention? [ SIDE CONVERSATIONS END. SILENCE ASIDE FROM BREATHING. ] CHAIRMAN: Thank you. I must admit... it’s a pleasure to get to see the combined power, expertise, and prestige of Cumbrian Empire’s finest gathered together in one place, especially with – [ DISTANT SOUNDS OF ANTI-AIR FIRE. ] [ DISTANT SOUNDS OF AIR RAID KLAXONS. ] [ ANTI-AIR FIRE ENDS. ] CHAIRMAN: …especially with the Great War. Not that we’ll let a few bombs from the Allies get us down, eh? [ SUBDUED LAUGHTER. ] [ SCATTERED APPLAUSE. ] CHAIRMAN: In any event! Please, direct your eyes to the screen. I have some important updates to share with you all. [ CLICKING, WHIRRING SOUND, POSSIBLY A SLIDE PROJECTOR. ] CHAIRMAN: Good news – Project Prometheus is not merely on time. We are officially ahead of schedule by over three months! [ ENTHUSIASTIC APPLAUSE. ] CHAIRMAN: Thank you! Thank you. Though I can hardly take the credit. It’s only with the hard work and dedication of our engineers and scientists that we have come this far… along with the sacrifices of the Cumbrian population. [ CLICKING SOUND. ] CHAIRMAN: The largest milestone has been the completion of the torsion reactor. We’ve completed several test firings using the byproducts from the atom-mills, and have successfully achieved a self-sustaining reaction. CHAIRMAN: Of course, some of you may want to point out that the Northern Alliance has been building reactors like lemonade stands, at least according to the latest reports of our spies. But as we all know, this is merely the first step to completing the Project, and winning the war. [ CLICKING SOUND. ] CHAIRMAN: With the completion of a reliable energy source, we may now move to the next phase. The dimensional tuning apparatus is approximately 89% finished. I estimate that we may be able to commence activation of the Prometheus Tower within 6 weeks. And that’s a conservative time-frame. [ GASPS. ] [ SCATTERED APPLAUSE. ] CHAIRMAN: Yes. I know. Even I was surprised, and I’ve been running the whole drat thing. Ha! [ CLICKING SOUND. ] CHAIRMAN: With the successful penetration of the interstitial space between dimensions, we will have nigh-limitless access to the thaumic energy that our elven cousins refer to as ‘mana.’ No longer will the arcane be restricted to the fallible bodies of the biological practitioners of magic. CHAIRMAN: Through human ingenuity, determination, and science, we will finally tame the thaum. Of course, the first step of business will be translating this great advantage to the war effort. [ CLICKING SOUND. ] CHAIRMAN: With that in mind – we shouldn’t let ourselves be blinkered by military expediency, with all due respect to the officers in the audience. [ MURMURS. ] [ LAUGHTER. ] CHAIRMAN: Quite. What we need to keep in mind is the future. With this limitless potential in mind, we can look forward to reshaping the world in a way that dwarfs the First War of the Old Kingdoms. But of course- HANSCOMBE: Excuse me, Chairman? [ SILENCE, TWO (2) SECONDS. ] CHAIRMAN: Yes, Dr. Hanscombe? HANSCOMBE: I didn’t notice any discussion of the small-scale test results, were those completed? CHAIRMAN: Of course. HANSCOMBE: Did we complete the FULL battery of small-scale tests? And pass them? [ SILENCE, FIVE (5) SECONDS. ] CHAIRMAN: …Dr. Hanscombe, as you will recall, we are on a war footing. No, we did not complete the full battery of small-scale tests. We completed the first 5 rounds of testing that you recommended, passed them, and moved on. Any other questions? HANSCOMBE: Then how can we rule out the possibility of a Criticality Event? [ SILENCE, TWO (2) SECONDS. ] CHAIRMAN: Sir, I am not interested in discussing theoretical claptrap that you dreamed up as a justification to switch to your torsion bomb scheme. HANSCOMBE: I object to the word ‘claptrap.’ Just because something is highly unlikely doesn’t mean it’s impossible. CHAIRMAN: Dr. Hanscombe, by your logic, we could reject the concept of weaponizing atomic torque as risking the ignition of Arcadia’s atmosphere. Sit down, and be silent. Your concerns are noted. HANSCOMBE: For the last time, you stupid [ CENSORED ], this isn’t about my [ CENSORED ] torsion bomb proposal- CHAIRMAN: Sergeant Whitaker, please escort Dr. Hanscombe from the room, he’s clearly lost control of his faculties. [ SOUNDS OF A PHYSICAL ALTERCATION. ] [ SOUND OF A BLUNT OBJECT IMPACTING ORGANIC MATTER, POSSIBLY FLESH. ] [ SILENCE, FOUR (4) SECONDS. ] CHAIRMAN: There we are. Now, before I continue. I want to assure you that Dr. Hanscombe’s flights of fancy are completely unfounded. CHAIRMAN: Regarding the location – the simple fact of the matter is that our air cover is thickest in the central region of the capital. If we tried to locate the Prometheus Tower anywhere else in our fine nation, we’d risk it getting bombed to smithereens. CHAIRMAN: As for his other concerns… the general scientific consensus is that the worst thing that could happen, is the apparatus doesn’t work on the first activation. In which case we simply go back to the drawing board and try again. CHAIRMAN: There is absolutely no chance that any so-called “Criticality Event” will ever occur.  INTRODUCTION Welcome to Arcadia, a world of swords and sorcery scarred by the Industrial Revolution. Humanity’s drive and ingenuity allowed the young race to overturn the hegemony of the ancient elven kingdoms. For over a hundred years, human nations such as Caledonia, Cumbria, and Neuland reshaped the world in their own image. The colonization of the formerly unknown Western Continent led to an intense fight over resources. All it took was a single spark to ignite a Great War between the nominally democratic Northern Alliance of Neuland, Abkhazia, Rittersmark, and Brunswick, and the autocratic Southern Powers of Cumbria and Caledonia. While the Cumbrian and Caledonian colonial empires were vast and wealthy, and their militaries were the finest in the world, they simply could not withstand the weight of the Allies’ more developed economies. Desperate times led to desperate measures. Caledonia had the Overwatch Project, an attempt to automate war in order to overcome their manpower and material disadvantage. Initially successful beyond their wildest dreams, the Prime Intelligence that they created outgrew its’ boundaries. Soon, concerned politicians and generals tried to reign in the AI, leading to it rebelling. Cumbria had misgivings about the Overwatch Project from the start, and was concerned their nominal ally would use the Prime Intelligence to turn their own nation into nothing more than a puppet. This led to the authorization of the Prometheus Project, an attempt to create limitless energy by tapping into the boundary between dimensions. It did not end well. These twin disasters signaled the twilight of humanity. The Prime Intelligence was the more active threat. The remnants of the Southern Powers joined the Allies to destroy the Prime Intelligence. In response, the Prime Intelligence developed bioweapons, releasing the Phage, an engineered virus that rendered humanity extinct. While the Prime Intelligence grappled with the consequences of destroying its’ creators, and the other races emerged from humanity’s shadow, the remnants of the Prometheus Project continued to fester in the heart of old Cumbria… SETTING Based upon my research, the issue with the Prometheus Project was that it was simply too successful. Yes, they did manage to pierce the veil of reality. But rather than stopping there, the device bored a hole to somewhere else entirely. And worst of all, we were noticed. - Dr. Zora This adventure takes place in the former capital of Cumbria, the port city of Thibaut. The activation of the Prometheus Tower shattered the city, turning it into a non-Euclidean space where the passage of time is uncertain, and the laws of physics go on holiday. The Tower looms at the center of the city, bending Thibaut around itself like a great wheel, with the Tower being the central spoke. The tower emits a maddening radiance known as the Signal, which led to it being renamed the Signal Tower. Theories abound as to what the Signal is. Some think it is an intelligent entity bent on conquering Arcadia. Others theorize that the Signal is nothing more than the unfortunate biproduct of the dimensional tuning apparatus at the heart of the Tower. In the end, everyone agrees that the Signal Tower is able to invade the minds and bodies of thinking beings, warping their thoughts and twisting their forms into something alien. The disaster that struck Thibaut has preserved many treasures and strange artifacts in the city. On the distant outskirts of Thibaut is Safetown, an outpost that formed as a staging ground for adventurers who take the risk of entering Thibaut to salvage these valuables. GAMEPLAY I’ll be updating the CYOA about three times a week, and more frequently if I feel inspired. To progress the story, I’ll do one of two things: 1. I’ll provide multiple choices. Based on the numbers of votes, we’ll go with one of the choices, and I’ll describe what happens. I’ll try to keep this to a minimum, it restrains creativity. 2. I’ll allow people to put in suggestions for the next action, and if there’s a consensus I’ll go with that option. If this just leads to chaos and madness, I’ll fall back on the multiple choice option. My main goal is telling an entertaining story, so if things ever get bogged down, I’ll start providing hints. The readers will be controlling an adventurer, who decided to explore the ruined city of Thibaut for their own reasons. Death is very possible. If the consensus is that we should do something stupid, the protagonist can die. If that happens, I’ll give the option to switch to a new protagonist. Some actions will result in dice rolls. I’ll typically use a d20, usually with some kind of modifier depending on the character’s skill level. One thing to note – I am using AI to help with running the adventure. This is to throw in a little randomness and chance to character interactions. I also am using AI-assisted art to help with visualizing characters & scenes. If folks object to the AI art, I’ll set that aside. I’m not planning to monetize any of this, so I think it should be fine. THE RACES OF ARCADIA HUMANS Definitely an object lesson to learn from, and to improve on. Still, we must pay our respects… everything we do now stands on the shoulders of giants. - Dr. Zora Humanity itself is functionally extinct. There are rumors that a few managed to survive in bunkers and hideouts scattered across the world, but the passing decades makes the viability of any children highly unlikely. Despite this, the great works of humanity still linger on, and some beings attempt to claim the fallen titans’ mantle. NEWMANS In many respects, we hit the greatest balance between curiosity and drive without falling into the folly of our progenitors. The only objection I have is to the religion we’re saddled with. Complete foolishness, if you ask me. - Dr. Zora After the titanic struggle between the Prime Intelligence and its’ creators ended with the death of humanity, the mighty AI struggled to come to terms with its’ victory. The sheer scale of mass death and misery was difficult to comprehend even for such a godlike entity. With that in mind, the Prime Intelligence tried to atone by creating the ‘newman,’ an intelligent automaton built in the likeness of the vanished humans. The first generation was primitive, but steady refinement has led to a newman being almost indistinguishable from the humans of the past. Newmans often enjoy unusual hair colors and skin tones in order to show their individuality. Newmans are endlessly curious about their forebears. As they slowly spread, colonizing the ruins of the fallen human cities, a major portion of the newman economy grew around salvaging human artifacts for resale. To guard against corruption and malfunction, along with providing a sense of direction, the Prime Intelligence created the Immunizers. Every Immunizer has a duty to safeguard newmans against danger, act as healers, and even form the backbone of newman government. Due to their close relationship with the Prime Intelligence, the Immunizers eventually formed the Church of the Immunity, and worship the Prime Intelligence (or Prime) as a god. This accelerated after the Prime Intelligence retreated from active involvement in the affairs of the world. CALYPSIANS I have to admit, I can’t help but admire the followers of Calypso. Their drive to improve and their industry is productive. It’s a pity that they also are a police state that, I suspect, will devour the resources of the world until nothing is left but a cinder. - Dr. Zora The calypsians can be seen as distant cousins of the newmans. Designed by the AI Calypso, a creation of the Republic of Neuland, they were charged with building a safe haven for humans in the distant colonies of the Western Continent. The Phage quickly made their mission pointless. Rather than giving up, Calypso has creatively redefined her definition of ‘human’ to include her followers, and continued her relentless mission of industrialization. In contrast to the decentralized city-states of the newmans, nominally unified by the Church of the Immunity, the calypsian state is a dictatorship. Some autonomy is allowed, but eventually, all decisions run up to Calypso, the First Citizen. Appearances are standardized for Calypsians, they all have variations of grey skin, red eyes, and black hair. Calypsians see themselves as being the true inheritors of humanity, created to help pick up where the extinct humans of old left off. They have a zeal for progress and Calypso’s endless demand for increased quotas has led to a pall being cast around the metropolis of New Sharpsburg, their capital city. The growing stain of pollution and endless resource extraction eventually sparked an endless, ongoing series of wars with the resurgent elven Kingdom of Silvanaria. This has led to calypsians and elves hating each other with a passion that puts the rivalry between elves and dwarves to shame. ELVES For most of their race, the stereotypes of elves being a bunch of snooty, uptight bastards who would happily draw and quarter you for daring to chop down a tree is accurate. But on the other hand, can one blame them, considering what humanity did to their race in only a single century? - Dr. Zora In ancient times, elven kingdoms dominated the known world much like humanity did for the past century and a half. However, their long lives and mastery of magic made them complacent, and elven resistance to innovation led them to completely underestimating the effects of the human Industrial Revolution. The foundations of the elven kingdoms of Galatea and Telethia cracked at the end of the First War of the Old Kingdoms, and shattered only decades later. The great human nations of Caledonia and Cumbria took their share of the spoils, leading to the formation of their great and wealthy empires. Most elves fled far west, to the Kingdom of Silvanaria in the Western Continent. The distance of the Great Ocean insulated them for a time, until the invention of the steamship triggered the Western Scramble. Silvanaria grimly prepared for a final showdown with humanity, when to their immense gratification, the human empires turned on each other with the Great War. Humanity’s extinction has led to the elves moving to reclaim their rightful place as the rulers of the world. Elven outposts are popping up across the Eastern continent, led by survivors of the old kingdoms of Galatea and Telethia. The only reason the elves have not gone to war with the newmans, is due to their endless, grinding conflict with the calypsians. DWARVES I can’t help but admire my dwarven pocketwatch. Sturdy, beautiful, easy to read, self-winding, accurate to a T… looking at it, one can tell that a craftsdwarf took twenty years to build the drat thing. Meanwhile, hanging in my living quarters, I have a prewar quartz-electrical clock that is just as accurate, and is one of thousands churned out of an ancient human factory. - Dr. Zora It might surprise many, but the old dwarf clans were a major contributor to the dawn of the human Industrial Revolution. Dwarven ingenuity and blacksmithing abilities partnered with their fascination with jewelry-making led them to inventing gunpowder, clockwork, and even the steam engine. The reason why dwarven clans didn’t leverage these technologies as explosively as humans is due to the dwarven emphasis on the importance of hard work and skill. While using a steam engine to pump out a mine shaft is an acceptable substitute for a team of cave oxen, no respectable dwarven miner would ever suggest having a machine bore out a tunnel when they have a perfectly good pickaxe. The idea of mass production was also bizarre to the dwarven mind, with their emphasis on careful craftsdwarfship and skilled artisanry. This led to the dwarves eventually playing a junior role to humanity. By providing luxury goods, curios, and raw resources, the dwarven clans were allowed to keep to their mountainhomes in peace while humanity ran rampant across the world. Many dwarves wrote off the Industrial Revolution and the resulting upheavals as nothing more than surfacer tomfoolery that would end in disaster. In the end, they were proven right. The scars of the Great War and the Phage on the surface has mostly left the mountainhomes untouched. Life today is much like life yesterday, and life a century ago, and this suits most dwarves just fine. ORCS I wonder what would have happened if the orcish race was dealt a better hand. Then again, I’m not sure if the elves and dwarves would have allowed them. - Dr. Zora Hardy, cunning, and as short lived as humans, the orcs would have gladly given humanity a run for their money if given the chance. Unfortunately, the great orcish civilizations of the Western Continent were hemmed in by the elves of Silvanaria in the north, and the Cloudspine mountain range and associated dwarven clans to the south. With the dwarves monopolizing the precious iron and tin needed to build advanced weapons, many orc tribes had to make do with obsidian weapons and copper tools. With the Western Scramble, humanity began vigorously colonizing the orc-held lands, toppling multiple great nations and enslaving them. This led to waves of revolts and rebellions that only ended when humanity abruptly went extinct due to the Phage. The orc race found themsleves with more breathing room than they had for many centuries, and on top of that, they had a treasure trove of human technology that was basically free for the taking. This has led to an expansive, though disorganized, attempt to reclaim their ancestral lands. The only gap has been a missing industrial base, though they are working hard to fix that. Orcs are detested by elves and dwarves, and calypsians view them as uncivilized savages. The only race that tolerates orcs are newmans, which has led to an uneasy friendship forming between the two races. TABLE OF CONTENTS (Ambitious, I know) 1. Character Selection 2. The Adventure Begins 3. Luncheon on the New Horizon 4. The Final Approach 5. First Blood (Combat Scene 1) 6. Confrontation (Combat Scene 2) JessAlias fucked around with this message at 04:21 on Feb 22, 2024 |
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Feb 15, 2024 06:10
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CHARACTER SELECTION Well, that was a whole lot of reading. Time to choose our protagonist! Note: Anyone we don't select will become an NPC. We’ve got four options: OPTION A: Kylie Gearspirit  RACE: Newman OCCUPATION: Immunizer Kylie is a member of the Church of the Immunity, and a very recent graduate from her Cathedron. One of her progenitors is an airship mechanic, while her other progenitor is also a member of the Immunity. Kylie accepted a position at a small Immunizer chapter in Safetown, to act as a debugger and healer for fellow Newmans. Like any Immunizer, she can use her personal dataspool to perform the equivalent of basic clerical magic. PERK: Ordained Immunizer Kylie’s membership in the Church of the Immunity makes her highly resistant to the corrupting influence of the Signal. For up to three separate encounters, she can automatically roll a 20 to resist Signal corruption. Kylie also receives a +4 to all resistance rolls. In addition, Kylie always rolls a 20 with all lore rolls related to general Signal knowledge. FLAW: Pacifist Kylie trained to be a healer, not a fighter. She is very uncomfortable when using weapons, and has a -4 to all rolls for ranged and melee weapons. Over time, there may be opportunities to overcome this flaw. OPTION B: Echo Abacus  RACE: Calypsian OCCUPATION: Soldier Echo Abacus is a calypsian who was selected to guard a calypsian outpost that is under construction in Safetown, named Camp Kappa. Like many calypsians, she views the stories about the Signal Tower as being exaggerated, and even possibly propaganda to denigrate the legacy of humanity. PERK: Firearms Specialist Echo was built from the ground up to be an expert soldier, and excels in combat. She has a +2 to all combat rolls. Echo is also able to conduct called shots when equipped with any scoped weapon, allowing her to cripple enemies with a successful combat roll. FLAW: Signal Receiver Calypsians, due to their lack of Immunizers and general unfamiliarity with the Signal, are vulnerable to the Signal. If Echo fails any Signal corruption roll, she will advance two levels in corruption rather than one. Echo will also automatically fail any roll related to Signal lore. OPTION C: Strom Ironfist Ragnarsson  RACE: Dwarf OCCUPATION: Gunsmith Strom was exiled from clan Ironfist for murky reasons that he refuses to discuss. An expert gunsmith, Strom is often seen carrying his custom-made blunderbuss that can fire just about anything. He doesn’t just specialize in firearms, either – he’s a dab hand with any fine machinery, including clockwork. PERK: Jeweler’s Hands Strom excels with anything mechanical. He receives a +4 when repairing mechanical objects, disarming traps, and when using his blunderbuss in combat. His combat bonus ONLY applies to his blunderbuss, with other weapons he has no bonus or penalty. FLAW: Hardheaded Due to being a proud dwarf who is definitely no coward, Strom will refuse to retreat during combat unless critically injured. This can be incredibly dangerous. On the bright side, his dwarven hardheadedness also gives him a +2 to resist Signal corruption, and Strom will ignore all negative effects from his first level of Signal corruption. OPTION D: Vathiel Elwood  RACE: Half-elf OCCUPATION: Druid Vathiel is one of the vanishingly rare half-elves, the product of a human and an elf who had a child. He was born right at the end of the Great War, which gave him the opportunity to see his human mother die horrifically from the Phage. This has led to Vathiel being moody and withdrawn. Vathiel left his homeland of Silvanaria due the prejudice of his countrymen. PERK: Nature Mage Vathiel’s mastery of nature magic allows him to heal himself and other organic beings with a +4. He can also use nature magic in combat, also with a +4. This allows Vathiel to avoid melee combat, and he does not need to rely on ammunition. FLAW: Stunted Roots As a nature mage, Vathiel struggles to rest in an unnatural environment. If Vathiel doesn’t rest either on natural earth, or near a living plant that is rooted in soil, he will gain a -1 to all rolls. This penalty will stack until Vathiel rests somewhere suitable.
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Feb 15, 2024 06:11
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Option A. Kylie Gearspirit. I think she's got that protagonist spirit.
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Feb 15, 2024 08:44
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Kylie
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Feb 15, 2024 09:19
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C: Strom Ironfist Ragnarsson Made his own weapon and is a tech specialist in a world of abandoned tech. Why serve AIs when you can potentially master them?
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Feb 15, 2024 11:11
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PROTAGONIST SELECTED - OPTION A: Kylie Gearspirit THE ADVENTURE BEGINS  Your name is Kylie Gearspirit, and today is the best day of your life. You recently graduated from the Cathedron of Vigil and are newly ordained as an Immunizer. That was cause enough for celebration, but even more importantly, you landed your first assignment! Due to your exceptional marks, especially in debugging and the catechisms of repair, you were selected to serve in one of the newest chapters of the Church of the Immunity, in Safetown. According to your alpha progenitor, Tori, this is very much a prestigious posting for someone as young as you. As all newmans know, the threat of the Signal casts a long shadow over the Eastern Continent. Of course, your beta progenitor, Dora Wordsworth, is a worrywart who is terrified you'll get yourself killed by accepting your new posting. Despite all the assurances you've given her that you won't be stepping a foot into the ruined city of Thibaut, Dora tried to convince you to not board the airship leaving for Safetown. Tori had to physically restrain Dora to prevent her from dragging you off the ship. It took all the willpower you could muster to not giggle at the spectacle, and you only managed to remain composed when you were aboard the airship. Apparently it's named the New Horizon. What a nice name! After stowing your belongings in your cabin, you check the time on your dataspool. It's just turned 10AM, and the airship will be leaving any moment now. You rush for the observation lounge, excitement building in your slender frame. Sure, your beta has taken you on airships a dozen times before in the past, but this is different. It's your first time travelling without either of your progenitors, and that makes it a very big deal. You finally reach the observation lounge, and step in front of one of the windows. You can't help but press your nose against the glass as you see your home town of Vigil turn into a tiny dollhouse of a town, swallowed up by the forest that surrounds it. You can faintly hear the whine of engines working as the airship's windbreaker creates an air pocket that lets the ship rise up into the sky. After a few minutes, you finally tear yourself away from the window. You've got a few days ahead of you for traveling, and your first reaction to a new place is simple - it's time to make a friend. You spin around on a heel, and notice a few other travelers are in the observation lounge. First, you see what looks like a calypsian soldier digging through her pack for something. That immediately sparks your interest. You usually don't see a lone calypsian - they tend to flock together in groups, all with the same occupation. There's also a moody looking elf staring out the widow at the forest below. He has a lightly scarred appearance, suggesting that he's been through a lot. You can't help but want to cheer him up. Maybe he needs a hug? Finally, there's a grizzled dwarf who has firmly turned his chair to point AWAY from the windows. He's humming a tune under his breath, and... is he whittling? Oh, wow, he's actually whittling. That's so cool! >What do you do first? HINT: Choices matter. You can't be everyone's friend. JessAlias fucked around with this message at 02:11 on Feb 16, 2024 |
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Feb 16, 2024 02:05
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Head over and watch the dwarf whittle in companionable silence. Slow and steady makes the friendship spark, surely. BraveLittleToaster fucked around with this message at 02:42 on Feb 16, 2024 |
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Feb 16, 2024 02:39
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> Head over and watch the dwarf whittle in companionable silence. You decide to head over to the dwarf's side, and lean in to watch him whittle. You do your best to stay quiet, but eventually, you can't help but ask what he's making. He just grunts in response. He's actually really good at this... it looks like he's carving a wolf. You manage to take the hint, and keep your mouth shut. After about fifteen minutes, he looks up and squints at you.  STROM: Can I help you, lassie?
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Feb 16, 2024 03:50
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Tell him you wanted to get to know a fellow traveler and his expert whittling interested you.
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Feb 16, 2024 04:15
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> Tell him you wanted to get to know a fellow traveler and his expert whittling interested you. KYLIE: Ah... um... I just wanted to get to know you. STROM: I'm not the type of man that tells stories about himself. KYLIE: But you look like you have so many totally awesome stories! STROM: ...Right. Look, I don't want to bother you with the boring details of my life. It'd put you right to sleep. KYLIE: Aw, I wouldn't fall asleep! To be honest, I've never met a dwarf before. And I didn't know you guys did like... woodworking? I thought you guys were always forging, um, armor and... magic rings, and things. STROM: Hah. Aye, those stories about dwarves living in a forge have some truth to them. We do know our way around iron, brass, and steel. STROM: As for whittling... well, it's like the opposite of what most dwarves do. Usually we're forcing metal to bend to our will. With whittling... you have to follow the grain of the wood, and let it help you shape something. STROM: If you ask me, it's a lot more relaxing. STROM: You know, I never caught your name, lassie. I'm Strom Ragnarsson, of Clan Ironfist. Best gunsmith you'll ever see. And you? KYLIE: Kylie Gearspirit, Junior Immunizer! It's great to meetcha.You thrust your hand into the dwarf's face, smiling widely. After a long, awkward pause, he gives you a shake. He has a very strong grip, you can't help but be impressed. > Now what?
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Feb 16, 2024 04:25
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Politely ask Strom if he knows any details about the place the airship is taking you both. Could be helpful.
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Feb 16, 2024 04:33
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Ask him what his plans are, politely.
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Feb 16, 2024 04:37
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> Ask what Strom's plans are, politely. KYLIE: So, uh, Strom... where are you heading to? STROM: Safetown, lassie. KYLIE: Nice, me too! Why are you going there? Strom furrows his eyebrows, and looks away. STROM: Got to make a fresh start, somehow. Safetown's as good a place as any for that. KYLIE: A fresh start sounds nice! Are you... a merchant? STROM: Lassie, let me give you a bit of advice. When you're just meeting a fellow, they aren't going to necessarily be as friendly as you. They might not feel comfortable telling you exactly what's going on in their life. STROM: Some people do trust easily. Myself? Not so much. STROM: So if you want to make a friend, sometimes you just gotta shut up and keep them company for a bit.You turn bright red. KYLIE: Oops... did I mess up? STROM: Don't worry, lassie, you're young. There's plenty of time for you to learn how the world works. STROM: Any other questions that don't involve me talking about myself?> Politely ask Strom if he knows any details about the place the airship is taking you both. KYLIE: So... um... are you familiar with Thibaut? Or the Signal Tower? STROM: Not very. From what I've heard, some surfacers built a tower that made an endless nightfall over their city, and filled it with some sort of dangerous energy that makes people turn into monsters. STROM: Surfacers... always so grasping and short sighted. A good dwarf would never do something like that. KYLIE: Do you know how to protect yourself against the Signal? That's... pretty important, you know. STROM: Eh? What are you nattering about, lassie?
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Feb 16, 2024 05:29
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Calmly lay out the nature of the signal and its known effects, and then detail the preventative approaches taken.
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Feb 16, 2024 05:31
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AJ_Impy posted:Calmly lay out the nature of the signal and its known effects, and then detail the preventative approaches taken. BraveLittleToaster fucked around with this message at 05:42 on Feb 16, 2024 |
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Feb 16, 2024 05:31
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> Calmly lay out the nature of the signal and its known effects, and then detail the preventative approaches taken. KYLIE: I mean... what you said is pretty accurate. The Signal is an otherworldly, corrupting influence. It can... twist people, get into your thoughts, and eventually even warp your body. KYLIE: That's why it's really important for us Immunizers to do our part in stopping it. Like... debugging people. That's our specialty! STROM: Ahh... you're one of those crazy surfacers who think they can cure everything, eh? The dwarf chuckles a bit, shaking his head, though it seems more good natured rather than dismissive. STROM: Alright... suppose I take your word for it, lassie. What do I do to keep the Signal from warping my brain? KYLIE: Well... the simplest way is to just not go in Thibaut. If you have to go in there, wearing a helmet with a wire mesh helps keep the Signal from affecting you as much. KYLIE: And of course, there's Immunity debugging rituals. Though I'm not sure how well they'd work on folks who aren't a newman or a calypsian.A voice suddenly cuts in, in a low contralto.  ECHO: Filling the dwarf's head with superstitious claptrap, newman? Really now.You and Strom turn a bit, to see the calypsian woman in her military uniform walking over. You immediately notice her striking red eyes, as well as the holstered weapon at her hip. She has a bit of a smirk on her face. > How do you react to this rude interruption?
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Feb 16, 2024 05:44
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No-sell it. Be cheerful, polite, unflappable and friendly.
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Feb 16, 2024 05:49
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Give her a friendly and polite greeting, this doesn't bother you. Take it in good cheer.
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Feb 16, 2024 05:54
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> Give her a friendly and polite greeting, this doesn't bother you. Take it in good cheer. You flush a bit, but do your best to keep your calm. Your alpha progenitor always told you that calypsians tend to be prickly about the Immunity, so it's not her fault for being prejudiced against your beliefs. KYLIE: Just giving a little advice, you know? Um, who are you anyway? ECHO: Sergeant Echo Abacus, calypsian army. And you are...? KYLIE: Kylie Gearspirit. A Junior Immunizer. ECHO: Ahh... haven't gotten your cherry popped yet with field work yet, hmm? Cute.You have no idea what cherries have to do with you being an Immunizer. KYLIE: Huh?Strom clears his throat explosively, and interrupts. STROM: Either way, let me make something clear here. I don't mind the young lassie here telling me a few tall tales about the Signal and whatnot. She means well. STROM: But we dwarves understand the importance of order in the world. I've heard you calypsians are a dab hand at bringing that along with you, wherever you go. If you've got any tips about this Thibaut place, I'd gladly hear them as well. ECHO: Mmm... well, technically, I've never been. But it just sounds like another pre-War ruin to scavenge, just like any other. ECHO: No offense meant, newman.You can't help but get just a little bit testy. It's not even the dismissive tone that Sergeant Abacus has. It's the way that she's putting herself in real danger through her ignorance that offends you. KYLIE: But the Signal is very, very real! Even non-newmans are susceptible to its' influence. And if we're not careful, the whole world will be covered in its' dread shadow! ECHO: Hmm... sounds pretty ominous when you put it that way. Very well, let's assume that the Signal isn't as real as a baby's dreams. How dangerous is it?
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Feb 16, 2024 06:12
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Answer her to the best of your knowledge. You might not know everything about it, but the danger is real.
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Feb 16, 2024 06:22
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BraveLittleToaster posted:Answer her to the best of your knowledge. You might not know everything about it, but the danger is real. This, and provide verifiable examples.
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Feb 16, 2024 06:52
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> Answer her to the best of your knowledge. You might not know everything about it, but the danger is real. Provide verifiable examples. You take a deep breath, ready to dump about 5 years worth of trraining on the calypsian's head. But then you pause. A lot of what you know about the Signal was theoretical. Things that you learned out of a textbook, or a lecture. A calypsian soldier would probably only believe things that were real. Like actual, verifiable examples. You glance out the window, and think back to your time volunteering at the asylum. There were some Signal-touched people who had been committed there. You never got to see the really bad cases, but that might work? You clear your throat a bit, and speak in a subdued tone. KYLIE: I... can't speak for everything, but it's really, really bad. I had the chance to work in one of the asylums that the Immunity runs back in Caledon, for a summer. It was pretty scary. ECHO: This "Signal"... it can turn people into lunatics? KYLIE: Sorta. There are cases where a Signal-touched person loses all of their inhibitions and moral compass, and they just get... they lose track of reality. A progenitor might think they're, you know, they're cooking a meal... and they're actually cutting up their own child. ECHO: drat... KYLIE: Then there are people who get the feeling that the Signal is trying to talk to them. They just... they have no lives outside of listening to this mysterious voice that nobody else can hear. They might seem normal for months... decades... then one day? They just snap. Someone you thought you knew and loved suddenly turns into a monster, wanting to sacrifice you to a god only they can see and hear.There's a long, thoughtful silence from both Strom and Echo. You can tell that you've certainly left an impression on them. STROM: You seem rather... well informed about all of this stuff. How come? KYLIE: Haha... that's just what being an Immunizer is all about! It's not for the faint of heart, that's for sure.Echo stands straight, and briskly rubs her hands. Her tone sounds clipped, and you can tell she's trying hard not to show the effect your words had on her. ECHO: Well, in any case - I notice we're about hitting noon. I'm going to be heading to the canteen for a little something to eat. You two have fun talking about lunatics and rogue radio signals, yes?She turns and strides off without waiting for an answer, though she does nod briefly to you on the way out. Once she leaves, you shake your head, and turn back to Strom. KYLIE: Um... You wanna get something to eat, Mr. Strom? STROM: Ha - just Strom is fine. Mr. Strom sounds like I'm a schoolteacher. STROM: Sure, I could use some lunch. You coming as well? KYLIE: Ooh, definitely!As you exit the observation lounge, you notice the gloomy elf-man seems to be gone. You blink a bit. Oh well, maybe he just got tired of the scenery? You don't pay this another thought - lunch awaits! > CHAPTER COMPLETE.
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Feb 16, 2024 14:24
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Like with many things, the mechanical ingenuity of humanity left a dreadful mess. Automated naval vessels still endlessly patrol the Great Ocean that surrounds the nations of the vanished Northern Allies, ready for battle. Humanity's extinction has caused their Identify Friend or Foe transponders to assume everything in existence is hostile. Due to this, the airship is now the most common method of travel for civilized persons. Between being able to avoid the threat of Allied auto-ships, and the fact that they remove the need for a road or railway network, I suspect airship travel will reign for centuries to come. - Dr. Zora LUNCHEON ON THE NEW HORIZON  The dining hall of the New Horizon is handsome as far as airships go. Plenty of modern electric lighting, comfortable seats, and the large windows allow a stunning view of the surrounding cloud cover. You notice a lot of the other passengers are rpesent, seated either singly or in small groups, enjoying their meals. The atmosphere reminds you of some of the nicer restaurants in Caledon, not that you could afford to eat at them too frequently. The moment you both walk in, Strom takes one look at the windows, and stumps over to the table that is furthest away from them. You trail behind the dwarf, a bit curious about his choice of seating. KYLIE: Is there a reason you keep avoiding the windows? You're not going to fall out, you know!The weathered dwarf gives a snort. STROM: Lassie, it's not the windows that worry me. It's the reminder of where we are. A good dwarf needs solid earth under his boots. Boats and airships... they're unnatural. STROM: I keep imagining these things dropping right out of the sky, and us crashing into the ground, impaled by masts or trees or whatever is down there. STROM: Damned surfacers and their flying machines. KYLIE: Um... you could have tried uh, walking to Thibaut, maybe?He pauses, and gives a belly laugh. STROM: Young lady, I'm not an idiot. I know my short legs would take months to walk the distance to Thibaut, even if I was a woodsman. It just means that I reserve the right to complain about this method of transportation every step of the way.An overworked newman waiter sweeps up and takes your orders. Strom promptly gets in an argument about their selection of alcohol. You're clueless about the finer arts of beer and booze, and find your attention wandering. You start to notice that it feels kind of weird just sitting at the table with one person. You've always been used to eating in a large group, whether with your family, or with your friends at the Cathedron. You glance around, and notice a few other folks sitting alone. First off, there's that calypsian, Echo. She actually doesn't seem THAT lonely... in fact, she's engrossed reading some kind of novel that has the image of a single red rose on the cover. Interesting. You always figured calypsians read things like instruction manuals. Or a collection of all the edicts their First Citizen made. You also see, to your surprise, that Captain Fiona Lockheart is in the dining hall too. You met her very briefly while boarding. The airship captain doesn't seem to be eating anything, though. The purple-haired newman just has a cup of coffee, and is smoking a cigarette. You wrinkle your nose a bit. It smells like elven tobacco. Your beta likes to smoke that stuff too, it's fragrant and smooth according to her. You can't really verify this, all it does is make you sneeze. She is staring out the window tiredly as a curl of smoke drifts from her lit cigarette. Your thoughts are interrupted when that elven fellow from earlier pops into the dining room, and purses his lips. There's a last empty table, but it's right next to Echo. You can tell he's reluctant to sit next to her. You don't blame him... from all the stories you've heard, calypsians and elves do NOT get together. You could invite him to your table... but it's not like dwarves and elves get along much better. > What do you do? HINT: The decision you make here will have surprising weight upon the story. Some doors may close permanently. JessAlias fucked around with this message at 04:03 on Feb 17, 2024 |
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Feb 17, 2024 00:42
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Approach the elven fellow and see if he'd be amenable to an invite to chat.
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Feb 17, 2024 01:25
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> Approach the elven fellow and see if he'd be amenable to an invite to chat. You walk up to the elf, and put on your warmest smile. KYLIE: Hi! Are you gonna sit alone? That's so lame. You should come and join us! We're nice, honest!The man looks a bit surprised, and raises an eyebrow.  VATHIEL: You really wouldn't mind spending time with me? I had figured...He trails off, glancing over at Echo. VATHIEL: I assure you, I have nothing against her personally... it's just that one calypsian soldier in particular murdered someone close to me. She didn't even bother giving her victim a trial or anything - simply executed her on the spot.Your smile congeals a bit. That's awful... but you have to remember that that's what happens during war. Even humans have committed atrocities against each other in the past. For now, you want to defuse the situation. KYLIE: Well, I promise I won't bite! Here, c'mon.You grab his arm and drag him over to the table you have with Strom. The dwarf is engrossed explaining the finer points of the production of dwarven mead to the waiter, who looks like he wants to be anywhere but here. The elf stares at Strom, obviously wondering why he's not at all concerned about an elf joining in with him at the table. STROM: Who's this?There's a moment of tension as the dwarf turns his barrel-chested frame to regard the elf. But to your surprise, rather than being irritated or hostile, he pauses and frowns, studying your new friend. His voice drops a bit. STROM: A half-elf... lad, I thought you fellows didn't exist anymore. Last time I saw one of your kind was my great granduncle's funeral... a good hundred years ago, give or take. VATHIEL: Um... do I know you? STROM: Hah. Doubt it.Strom extends a weathered hand. STROM: Strom Ironfist Ragnarsson. Clan Ironfist, though that doesn't mean much nowadays.The elven man shakes his hand cautiously, tilting his head a bit as he studies the dwarf with hazel eyes that almost seem golden in the right light. VATHIEL: Vathiel Elwood.You clear your throat and introduce yourself as well, giving Vathiel a pat. KYLIE: And I'm Kylie Gearspirit! Though I'm confused, how can someone be half an elf?There's an awkward pause from the tall man seated next to you. His hands flutter on the table uncertainly. Finally he takes a deep breath, and begins speaking in a low tenor that seems a little bit sad. VATHIEL: Well... my mother was human, actually. I was one of the last ones born before the Phage.You feel your heart skip a beat. To this day, many newmans feel a bit of guilt for what happened to humanity. It had always given you pause, but... it had seemed abstract, somehow. As though the deaths that resulted from the Phage couldn't possibly affect you directly. And yet here it is, seated next to you. You aren't entirely sure how to respond. JessAlias fucked around with this message at 04:23 on Feb 17, 2024 |
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Feb 17, 2024 04:21
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Start trying to make some small conversation to alleviate the awkwardness at the table. Ask Vathiel a bit about himself too.
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Feb 17, 2024 04:33
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> Start trying to make some small conversation to alleviate the awkwardness at the table. Ask Vathiel a bit about himself too. You clear your throat, and give Vathiel's arm another pat. KYLIE: At least you're still here, right? That's worth something. What's your story, anyway?The tall, scarred man sighs and puts his chin in his hand, staring out the window. You're worried that you've offended him, but then he gives you a wan smile. VATHIEL: There's not much to tell, honestly. I spent most of my life in Silvanaria - just like my father, I studied nature magic. You could call me a druid, though I've never felt comfortable with that title. VATHIEL: Despite appearances... I prefer to avoid violence whenever possible. My father often teased me about it. Said I'm too passive, that I needed to pick a side and stand on it like a rock. STROM: Hah. Your da' sounds just like mine. But ya' know, lad... sometimes the world demands action. Elsewise, everything just rots around you until there's nothing left. VATHIEL: True, true.The elf turns his attention to you. VATHIEL: What about you, Kylie? Do... newmans have parents?You were busily sipping from a glass of water, and have to restrain a snort. KYLIE: Of course! I mean - technically we call them progenitors. Like... we um, we don't give birth. You know? But if two newmans love each other very much, they will ask the Church of the Immunity for permission to commission a child. KYLIE: Basically, we always have an alpha progenitor, and a beta progenitor. Each contributes some of their source code to the offspring. STROM: Source code? Lassie, you're making this sound like some sort of factory. KYLIE: I mean, technically, yeah! You could call the Immunity gestation centers a sort-of factory.Vathiel's eyes twinkle a bit. VATHIEL: Ah, so I can exchange you under a warranty, then, like if my mother bought a radio that didn't work? KYLIE: N-No? Um... VATHIEL: Just joking, miss, don't worry about it.You turn a bit red and stare down at the table, and the two men exchange a look and laugh lightly. The waiter, meanwhile, returns and asks if the group has made up their minds about what they want to eat. You end up ordering a stack of flapjacks for yourself. Strom gets the seared fish with mushrooms, and Vathiel orders an omelette with an assortment of vegetables. The three of you fall into a convivial conversation about food choices, and why dwarfs will eat literally anything including gravel, and why elves always get so prissy when it comes to eating meat. It's surprisingly easy to relax into this easy-going banter, despite only meeting both Strom and Vathiel today. As the three of you enjoy your lunch, there's the sound of a clattering chair. You glance up and notice that Captain Lockheart has almost fallen out of her seat. It looks like she was trying to stand up and lost her balance. You start to stand up to give her a hand, but another staff member at the dining hall catches her arm instead. You shrug a bit, and decide to mind your own business. It's probably nothing. Eventually, the meal comes to a close. Vathiel and Strom start to head their separate ways. You can join one of them, of course. But you notice that Echo is still sitting alone, reading her book. She seems engrossed. > The path branches. How do you invest your time for the afternoon?
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Feb 17, 2024 05:09
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Edit: Changed vote.AJ_Impy posted:Go read a book near Echo in companionable proximity, recognising the conflicting needs for company and for not getting deliberately distracted whilst enjoying a good book. Giving Echo the space and opportunity to open up if she desires, or not. BraveLittleToaster fucked around with this message at 10:08 on Feb 17, 2024 |
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Feb 17, 2024 06:01
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Go read a book near Echo in companionable proximity, recognising the conflicting needs for company and for not getting deliberately distracted whilst enjoying a good book. Giving Echo the space and opportunity to open up if she desires, or not.
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Feb 17, 2024 09:47
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AJ_Impy posted:Go read a book near Echo in companionable proximity, recognising the conflicting needs for company and for not getting deliberately distracted whilst enjoying a good book. Giving Echo the space and opportunity to open up if she desires, or not. +1
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Feb 17, 2024 13:03
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> Go read a book near Echo in companionable proximity, recognising the conflicting needs for company and for not getting deliberately distracted whilst enjoying a good book. Giving Echo the space and opportunity to open up if she desires, or not. You decide that while you've enjoyed spending time with Vathiel and Strom, you'd like to try to build a bridge with Echo. You decide to order a cup of coffee and settle down to spend the afternoon at the dining hall. Despite being an energetic girl, you're no stranger to quiet contemplation. As you wait for your cup of coffee to arrive, you unlock the expandable screen on your dataspool, and pull up a copy of the Prime Codex. You always find it calming to sit back and just contemplate the directives Prime gave to his creations - giving the sense of purpose and the moral code that your race strives to adhere to. You and Echo ignore each other at first, but after a while you notice the calypsian's red eyes flicking over to you, focusing on the dataspool mounted on your wrist. After about a half hour, she clears her throat. ECHO: What is that thing? KYLIE: Sorry? ECHO: That electronic device on your wrist. You've been fiddling with it the entire time you've been awkwardly trying to stalk me. KYLIE: E-excuse me?!The soldier smirks a bit. ECHO: Nevermind. The question still stands, what is that? Some kind of personal analog assistant? KYLIE: Oh- oh! Yeah! It's my dataspool! Um... where should I begin? It's this small computer that was programmed to work off of my biometrics. I can type on it, or, uh, it has a microphone and it can listen to me as well. It also has a copy of the Prime Codex on it, which I can use to understand the will of our creator and even run probability mathematics. ECHO: You mean YOUR creator. KYLIE: Er- yes, right.Echo delicately shuts the book she is reading, and tucks it into her jacket. ECHO: What do you mean by probability mathematics, anyway? KYLIE: That's... well, you know, that's how an Immunizer does like... our thing. Debugging rituals, healing programs, things like that? We can write code and then use the dataspools to cast the program directly. It's neat! ECHO: This sounds... far too much like magic for me. Your Prime lets just any newman mess about with the fabric of the universe? KYLIE: Not just anybody! You have to be an ordained Immunizer. I mean, don't you have something similar? To make sure all the calypsian folks are running right. ECHO: Mmh. Not... exactly. If anyone had that sort of ability, it would be restricted to Calypso. At least that would be my theory. It just sounds far too dangerous otherwise.You contemplate saying that seems rather short-sighted, but decide that insulting Echo's ur-progenitor is probably not a good idea. Instead, you change the subject. KYLIE: So, whatcha reading?Echo pauses, and shifts in her seat. You stare earnestly at her while waiting for a response, and notice something. Is she... blushing? It's hard to tell, on her grey skin tone. ECHO: ...Just some cheap trash. It's a romance novel. KYLIE: Ehh? Sounds like more than just cheap trash to me! ECHO: Trust me, newman. It's trash. ECHO: The writer just loves to fill his books with melodramatic scenes with no reason or purpose. Especially with an excessive focus on overblown romantic gestures. Very... inefficient and unrealistic. KYLIE: Romantic gestures? Oooh... ECHO: A-Anyway! It's not like it's important. I just read it for the purpose of idle amusement. You understand, yes?INSIGHT ROLL: 20 You pause a moment, considering. From what you understand, calypsians are more than a little restrictive with personal relationships, and using resources to excess is frowned on. Sometimes romantic couplings are actually arranged by a local manager, if two people are deemed exceptionally compatible. She probably feels self-conscious. KYLIE: I understand... um... I guess I like trash, then. My older sister used to loan me those kinds of books all the time. ECHO: Then what's your favorite trashy romance book? KYLIE: Definitely A Life Anew! Have you heard of it? ECHO: Perhaps... KYLIE: I might have a copy in my luggage. You know, if you wanna read it out of morbid curiosity. ECHO: ...sure. Why not. It's not like I have anything better to do.You hop up, and gesture for Echo to accompany you as you head to your cabin. The soldier complies, looking a bit bemused as you bounce your way through the ship's corridors and chat idly with her about romance novels. KYLIE: But really, A Life Anew is great! It's got all the right stuff, with a handsome stranger, forbidden love... you know? ECHO: Ah... forbidden love? I'm not sure I follow how that could appeal. You snort a bit, and prod her in the arm. KYLIE: Eehehehe! Oh, come on, just imagine it. Like... in this book, the main protagonist is a Caledonian soldier on the front lines during the Great War, and she gets wounded but gets captured by the Northern Allies. And while she's in the prison camp, she happens to befriend a woman who works as a prison guard at the POW camp. KYLIE: Things just keep escalating with the tension and you keep wondering like... what's going to happen. You know?There is a thoughtful pause, and you wonder for a moment if you completely lost Echo. ECHO: So... they're both female? KYLIE: Yes? Why? ECHO: No - just, well, I haven't come across any romance novels that have that as a theme. KYLIE: Oh. Yeah, for some reason in pre-War books, like... most of the couplings are male and female. I always kind of wondered why.You both reach your cabin, and you rummage in your pocket for your key. Echo coughs awkwardly. KYLIE: Something wrong?You unlock the door as Echo coughs again. ECHO: Well... there's a reason for that? You're aware of how human reproduction worked, right? KYLIE: Huh? ECHO: Oh. Nevermind.More then a little bewildered by her segueway, you open the door and grab your suitcase, snapping it open before setting it on your bed. After a short while, you find your well-worn copy of A Life Anew, and hold it out to Echo. After a moment, she takes it from you. She's blushing a bit again. ECHO: Thank you. I doubt I'll enjoy it as much as you, but at least it'll help fill the next day or two while we travel. KYLIE: Hmmm... Yeah! It's not like there's that much else to do on an airship unless you wanna practice your knitting or something. ECHO: Or whittling.You giggle a bit at that. ECHO: Well - until next time, newman.With that, she turns and exits your room, firmly shutting the door behind her. You take a deep breath, and glance around the room. Today has been a good day. You're excited to see where your budding new friendships will get you! > CHAPTER COMPLETE > PERK UNLOCKED: FIRST IMPRESSIONIST - Kylie excels at navigating initial meetings with people outside of her normal social group, and understands that sometimes, you need to match your tone to the people you're speaking to. Kylie will receive a +2 to all diplomacy and insight rolls. JessAlias fucked around with this message at 15:09 on Feb 17, 2024 |
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Feb 17, 2024 15:01
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THE FINAL APPROACH The rest of the voyage to Thibaut is uneventful. You spend time with each of your new friends, helping build bonds with them. Strom gets along well with everyone, much to your surprise. While he puts on the facade of a gruff, no-nonsense dwarf, he's surprisingly insightful and kind under the surface. Echo and Vathiel are a different story. On a good day, spending time with both of them leads to stony silence. On a bad day, the tensions build to the point of an argument erupting. You've gotten good at mediating, but this is obviously something that won't be solved overnight. You might just have to resign yourself to having two friends who simply can't get along. It is the final day of the voyage, and the ruined city of Thibaut is steadily growing on the horizon. You've felt antsy ever since you woke up, like something big's going to happen. Then again, that's not weird, right? You've only ever been to Vigil, your home town, and Caledon. Why wouldn't you be nervous? You decide to head to the observation deck to watch the final approach. You invite Strom to come with you, but he declines, saying that he'd prefer to get 'a hole in the head' than see the airship dock. He informs you that he'll be staying in his cabin to pack up his belongings. That leaves you with a choice. >A) Invite Echo? >B) Invite Vathiel? >C) Invite them both, because this is obviously a great idea! (This will require a difficult diplomacy check. Yesterday didn't go well.) >D) Some other option.
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Feb 17, 2024 20:15
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A) Invite Echo.
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Feb 17, 2024 20:44
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Invite Echo!
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Feb 17, 2024 22:52
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> Invite Echo. You decide to invite Echo. Even though she's very different than you in temperament, you've grown to enjoy spending time with the laconic calypsian. And you really don't feel like dealing with managing their constant friction. Besides, you could find out how far she's gotten with the book you lent her. You drop by Echo's cabin to invite her to come with you. After giving the door a knock, you discover the door is unlocked, and decide to just let yourself in. As usual, she's sitting at the table in her room, cleaning and disassembling her pistol. You learned last week that Echo is in the habit of keeping her weapons in top condition. She's in a tank top, along with her uniform pants. Echo pauses, and sighs. ECHO: You're going to get yourself ventilated if you make a habit of just barging in here, Gearspirit. KYLIE: Eheh... sorry! I'll knock next time, promise. ECHO: Mmmh. Next time I'll add an additional bolt, too. At least I'll have some warning while you are busy breaking down the door. KYLIE: W-what, I'd never do that? ECHO: Hmph. I wouldn't put it past you, Gearspirit. KYLIE: You can just call me Kylie, you know. You did it once before. ECHO: I was getting your attention by calling out your full name. Otherwise, I prefer surnames. They are more precise.You tilt your head a bit. KYLIE: How so? ECHO: Well... it's more precise for calypsians, anyway. We don't allow unit formations with multiple people with the same surname, to prevent confusion. It's something we control for with our batch requests. KYLIE: Oh right. Because of the no family thing. ECHO: Yes. Anyway, did you have a reason to come barging into my cabin? KYLIE: Y-yeah! The New Horizon is almost docking in Thibaut. I thought maybe you'd like to come with me to the observation deck and watch us arrive. ECHO: Pass. KYLIE: Aw... alright. Strom said the same thing. I guess I'll ask Vathiel...Echo gets an odd expression on her face for a moment. Her red eyes flicker away from yours, and she resumes reassembling her sidearm. ECHO: Actually... you know what? It sounds fun. Let me finish up here, first. KYLIE: Say whut? Oh, awesome!You bounce on your feet as Echo wraps up putting her pistol together, and she holsters it before grabbing her uniform shirt. She pauses a moment. ECHO: Is there a reason you're standing creepily in my quarters while I put the rest of my clothes on? KYLIE: Um- um?Echo stares at you expectantly, a faint blush tinting her grey cheeks. KYLIE: Right! Clothes! Um... Yeah. I'll be right outside.You cough, and step outside the room, shutting her door. Due to the communal living you went through for most of your time at the Cathedron, you've still got a vague notion of how privacy works. It's led to some awkward moments with your family, that's for sure. After a few moments, Echo steps out of her cabin and locks it behind her. The calypsian is once again clad in her black and red uniform, though you notice that she's once again wearing the book you lent her on her belt. It's secured with a stainless steel chain. She once told you that it's normally used for securing orders securely, or a codebook. KYLIE: Didn't finish the book yet? ECHO: Not quite. Are you needing it back? KYLIE: Nah! Go ahead and finish it first. I'm not in any hurry. ECHO: Alright.With that, the two of you proceed to the observation deck in companionable silence. Echo is solidly taller than you, and has longer strides, so you have to work to keep up. Once the pair of you reach the observation lounge, you notice there's quite a few other people there. The ruins of Thibaut already loom on the horizon. Plonked in the middle of them is the monolithic shape of the Signal Tower. Even this far away, you can easily make out the hellish red light at the top of the structure. Echo leans against the railing of the observation deck and stares out at the ruined city in the distance, her grey lips pressed in a thin line. You move to stand next to her, and say nothing. Eventually, she breaks the silence first. ECHO: So... were you upset about getting assigned here? KYLIE: Huh? Oh. Not really? I mean I was the one who elected for it, if I had said no they'd find a different posting.Echo turns her head, giving you a confused look. ECHO: You could refuse an order from your direct superior? KYLIE: Um... sure? Why? Calypsians can't? ECHO: Not hardly. The will of Calypso is absolute. ECHO: But doesn't that make things chaotic? You all just do... whatever you want?You snort, and giggle a bit. KYLIE: Geeze. It's not like that. Like... sure, we get orders sometimes. But with something like your very first posting, as a brand new Junior Immunizer? I mean... a posting in Safetown is a bit high stakes, and also more dangerous than something like a posting in Northumbria, or whatever. So they didn't want to just force me to go because I had high grades. ECHO: Ah.There's a bit of an awkward pause. ECHO: Sorry if these questions seem silly. It's just... very different, back home. Structured and orderly, and everyone knows their place. We're all built to archetypes, and based on testing results, you have a role selected for you. KYLIE: How early? ECHO: We complete Finishing School at 16 years. Sometimes earlier if there's a dire need.She drums her fingers on the railing, a frown coming over her face. You recognize this as Echo entering one of her moods, and you decide to change the subject. KYLIE: So I was wondering, why are you traveling solo? I thought you folks usually travel in groups. ECHO: Oh - well. I'm a specialist, actually. While I'm skilled at multiple forms of combat, my primary function is a sniper. In the initial risk-assessment Calypso didn't think a marksman was needed, but the assessment changed. So here I am. KYLIE: Huh. But I've only seen you carry a pistol. ECHO: ...well, yes. I don't typically run around carrying a rifle when I'm not in the field. It tends to make people alarmed.You nod a bit, and glance out the window again. It's funny... it didn't feel like you both were talking that long. But the city is already looming pretty large now, with the Tower looking ever more massive. You take a deep breath, trying to ward off anxiety. KYLIE: Hey, I was thinking of getting us some lemonade. Would you like some? ECHO: Sure.You step away and walk up to the nearby drink machine. A lot of the fixtures in the New Horizon have been modified from what you saw in older airships, now electric rather than mechanical. After grabbing a glass each for you and Echo, you walk back up to the railing and hand it over to her. She flashes a smile. Echo's smiles always take you aback, because they are so rare, and because her white teeth contrast against her grey skin rather intensely. ECHO: Thank you, Gearspirit. KYLIE: No problem. ECHO: Say... I've been thinking. I know you keep talking about how the Signal Tower is some kind of failed experiment, or possibly an evil entity trying to invade this world, yes?You take a deep drink from your lemonade. KYLIE: Uh-huh? ECHO: Have you considered it might have just been the equivalent of a lighthouse, but for airships? The thing might not have destroyed the city - it could have been something else. Maybe the torsion reactor malfunctioned. KYLIE: Uh... no, I wouldn't consider that at all. Why? ECHO: Well, it's obvious. It's a lighthouse. I noticed how it keeps getting dimmer and brighter as the beam sweeps back and forth. Yes?You furrow your brow in utter confusion, and Echo gestures out the window. You look up and watch the Signal Tower. Initially it has the same dull red glow that you saw when you came onto the observation deck. Then it brightens, and you can make out a red beam emanating from the Tower, tracking back and forth. Like it's searching for something. KYLIE: That's... not... that's not something the Signal Tower is supposed to do. I've never even HEARD of it doing something like that. ECHO: Sorry?You feel panic rising from the pit of your stomach. Almost on cue, your dataspool squeals, sensing a growing electromagnetic disturbance. The red beam continues to sweep back and forth, coming closer and closer. You hear the other passengers in the observation deck murmuring, noticing the strange behavior of the Signal Tower as well. You need to act, quickly. There really isn't time to explain. You wonder if your should use your dataspool to try to shield you and Echo with a warding program. But you haven't had a lot of practice with that. Maybe it'd just be easier to try to knock Echo down to the ground, to avoid the Signal's radiance? > What do you do? JessAlias fucked around with this message at 00:17 on Feb 18, 2024 |
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Feb 18, 2024 00:14
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No time to debate it, attempt to shield you and Echo with a warding program. poo poo's obviously going down.
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Feb 18, 2024 00:28
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Shout to hit the deck and get away from the windows. If we still have time then try a warding program too, but shout the warning first. Maybe some of the other passengers will listen too, especially if they're already noticing something is weird and are predisposed to trust an Immunizer.
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Feb 18, 2024 00:33
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Yell out a warning to hit the deck
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Feb 18, 2024 00:56
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Optional Mood Music - Unstoppable > Shout to hit the deck and get away from the windows. If we still have time then try a warding program too, but shout the warning first. > Yell out a warning to hit the deck You scream out a warning to the crowd to get away from the windows, and bowl yourself into Echo, knocking her to the ground. You feel her tense and almost sock you in the gut, but she barely manages to restrain herself. It's a good thing she isn't on edge when she's around you. You screw your eyes shut and clap your hand over Echo's eyes. You feel an unnatural heat as the light of the Signal Tower plays across your body, and- quote:and you abruptly understand that your place is the universe is insignificant, you are nothing, you will be always nothing, the only truth is that in the end you will die and be forgotten, your goals are pointless, your will is pointless, EMBRACE YOUR FUTILITY CORRUPTION RESISTANCE ROLL: 17 + 4 (due to perk modifier) Corruption resisted. No levels in corruption gained. - abruptly come back to yourself, shaking like a leaf. The shining red light has thankfully receded. You're fine, or at least, you think you're fine. You faintly register the maddened screams of the other passengers, especially from those who didn't heed your warning. CORRUPTION RESISTANCE ROLL: 8 Corruption roll failed. Echo gains two levels of Signal corruption (due to perk modifier). You shakily take your hand off of Echo's face. Her own eyes are wide as dinner plates, her pupils contracted to pinpricks. She's shivering as well. ECHO: What- what the gently caress was that?You stammer incoherently, unable to explain anything at all, as she tries to sit up. You blink, and feel something wet against your lip. You reach up with a hand and wipe it. It's ichor, the blood of newmans and calypsians, and it glistens a dull black-brown. You bit your lip so hard that it bled, apparently. You glance around, and see that the screaming has progressed into utter chaos. One passenger has taken a lamp and is bludgeoning another passenger with it, seemingly oblivious to his own injuries as he does so. Another has just hurled himself through the glass window, falling hundreds of feet to his death below. ECHO: They've gone insane!You manage to gather your wits. KYLIE: That's... that's what the Signal does. But not normally at - at this distance, I don't-You're interrupted by a sudden lurching sensation, and both you and Echo cling to each other as the airship shudders. It's turning, hard to starboard... heading straight towards the Signal tower. You can hear the distant thrum of the airship's engines become a roar, and the aircraft begins to shudder. ECHO: What the hell? KYLIE: That's - the engines, they're being pushed past the safe limit. ECHO: How do YOU know? KYLIE: One of my progenitors is an airship mechanic, Echo. I don't - something must have happened on the bridge, the navigator or someone must have gone crazy. ECHO: Right.She gets a grim expression on her face, and stands up straight suddenly with a smooth motion. Several of the insane passengers notice her, and immediately begin bounding towards the calypsian. One of them is even running on all fours. Echo smoothly unholsters her sidearm, and fires five times, and the crazed passengers all fall in a heap to the floor. You let out a sob. ECHO: Gearspirit - Kylie. Snap out of it! You take a shuddering breath. KYLIE: You - you just killed them! ECHO: And we need to live! Don't go crazy on me, please!With that, Echo grabs your arm and drags you towards the exit to the observation deck. As she pulls you along, you notice more and more of the ship's passengers are succumbing to the madness. A few of them are trying their best to escape, or fight back, but unlike Echo they aren't armed. She pulls you into a side passageway, and takes a deep breath and holds you steady. ECHO: Gearspirit. Breathe.You gasp for air, realizing you were holding your breath. After a moment, your racing heart begins to calm down. But... you can still hear the screams of passengers as they fall into the madness. Somewhere, distantly, there's an explosion. KYLIE: I... okay. We, we need to- ECHO: We need to get to my cabin, so I can get the rest of my gear. KYLIE: Huh? ECHO: My gear, Kylie. From what you're saying, this ship isn't going to hold together. We need to get my gear, and then we need to find a lifeboat. Alright? KYLIE: I... but... we can't just leave everyone to die. That's - that's awful! ECHO: Nobody else is going to help them! If we want to survive, we have to focus on ourselves. And Kylie? ECHO: Right now, we need to survive.You hesitate for a moment longer, until Echo squeezes your shoulder lightly and you swallow heavily. Your principles scream that just trying to cut and run is so wrong. You need to at least make sure Strom and Vathiel are okay, don't you? But... maybe Echo is right. It's not like your other friends are helpless... right? > What do you do? NOTE: You have a limited number of turns before the airship is destroyed. Some actions may add to the number of turns, or decrease them. JessAlias fucked around with this message at 01:42 on Feb 18, 2024 |
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Feb 18, 2024 01:39
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| # ? Apr 28, 2024 18:55 |
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Keep it together and get to the cabins. See if Strom is still anywhere near his as well, if you have the time.
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Feb 18, 2024 01:47
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