voidtreckermods: (train)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] middleofsomewhere2021-05-09 06:48 am

What their Eyes See: Start

"Good Morning Voidtreckers, today is day five of the month of Llama." The voice echoes through the train as passengers wake up in their beds. Not long afterwards their SCA’s glow with the colour of the void and a holographic image will appear.

Preperation and Arrival

As usual they have a couple of hours before arrival to ready themselves for the mission ahead. As promised the dressing carriage is open for them to find suitable clothing. Trench coats, a lot of leather, a lot of black with neon colours thrown in here and there. There is a lot of choice in a variety of sizes so everyone is bound to find something to fit. Hopefully something they like, though some passengers may be more comfortable with the fashion choices than others.

A couple of hours after the announcement of the mission the voice speaks again. "Shortly arriving in system #93426194992. Arriving in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one." The train shakes as it leaves the void, colours fading to be replaced to a grey thick smog outside the windows.

The train bumps slightly as it hits rails, snaking its way towards the city before entering a tunnel. A few moments and they come to a stop, the doors open onto a platform. Stepping out into the station the first thing to hit them is noise, it sounds like there are ten different advertisements blaring, someone or something is playing loud music. There's a lot of flashing signs, screens with advertisements, bright lights that change colour for no real apparant reason. Heavy on the senses as they make their way to the gates.

They will find that their SCAs allow them through the barriers and into the wider train station, which is somehow even louder. It is busy as well, people hurrying from place to place. There are signs declaring this to be Tier Three, Home of Manufacturing. as well as signs pointing the way to lifts, to take them to other tiers.

Tier One

Mapping

For those travelling up to tier one the first thing they will notice when they leave the lift is, it is a lot quieter up here. Peaceful even, there are people around, all looking official and busy. None will pay the Voidtreckers any mind unless they are acting particularly suspicious.

The air feels better here, probably because the whole tier is encased with a dome that they will be able to see as they enter, coming from a lift near the edge of the tier. The buildings are all harsh dark metal, almost uniform in design. The streets are clean and there has been an attempt at greenery with some shrubs and simple plants.

The buildings all need to be accessed using their SCA's. Their SCA maps show them where the buildings are but give no information about them, nor do they have maps of inside. Once the voidtreckers enter they will find that their maps fill in as they explore.

There are plenty of different buildings, offices, labs and meeting rooms. There are also a lot of security staff and anyone acting too suspiciously will be approached and questioned. Hopefully they have a plan, blend in or sneak around.

Flickers

Sometimes though that is a little harder, they might enter a room to find themselves on their old street, in a world they have visited before on the train or somewhere else that is decidedly not here. These illusions get more common as time goes on and people will begin seeing the illusions of others or find the two scenes merging together.

Voidtreckers who are immune to illusions will not see these strange visions and those who are particularly strong willed will be able to fight them off. Once people know they are illusions they can focus through them to see reality even if it is overlaid with what their minds want to see. It will take a lot of concentration to stay focused and get an accurate map.

Tier Two

A Mystery

The lift here brings them out into a glass covered corridor. Outside the glass the air is thick with smog but the filtration systems means that the air seems fine inside, especially with their SCA's helping out. Outside the tunnels they will be able to see the lights of hovercars zipping around and the silhouettes of buildings. Office blocks and large houses make up this sector. Large billboards blare out advertisements at all hours, neon lights shining through the smog.

The atmosphere of the sector is one of fear, people hurry about their business, keeping an wary eye on their surroundings. The newcomers won't get too much scrutiny but people are likely to be very wary if approached or questioned.

But they will talk once they guage them to not be a threat. Murders. Six people dead, from inside their own houses. Locked doors, security systems, all for nothing. Is it a serial killer? But the reports suggested an animal attack? From what animals?

Getting access to the houses will take some negotiating or breaking and entering. The bodies themselves have been cleared by law enforcement, caution tape still up to keep out any nosy public.

The rooms the bodies were found in were all rooms that used holograms as decoration and the voidtreckers will realise when they enter them that these holograms seem a lot more realistic than some of the others they might have seen in their stay in the sector so far.

Creatures

As they talk to people, or overhear gossip they will hear more about animal attacks. Someone swears they saw a lion prowling the streets. A hovercar crashed and the driver swore they had been attacked by an eagle. Neither of those creatures live in the city. Neither of those creatures exist on this world anymore.

But the Voidtreckers will quickly learn there is something to these rumours, especially as dark falls, the feeling they are being hunted. A paw tread, a tail disappearing around a corner. As days go on they may get attacked by a bear, a tiger or perhaps a creature from their own world, one that should not exist here at all...

Tier Three

A Crisis

Leaving the station brings them into crowded streets, air thick with smog, Up above them is the floor of the plate above, set with bright lights to offset the lack of natural light getting through. Billboards and screens blare advertisements, traders yell their wares. Life is fast and swirls around them as they step out into the streets.

Here also there is an air of worry. The talk is all of Spectura, kids unconcious after playing video games, hospital overflowing. Spectura's fault, there are calls for accountability, claims of sabotage. No person gives the same story and it becomes clear that most people don't know what has happened but almost everyone knows someone who has been affected. Fear, blame, tensions are high.

But life must go on, the factories never stop, people can't not work and with so many people unconscious people have to pick up the slack. The whole sector feels at breaking point.

If they try and buy Spectura systems they will not be stopped though they will need to sign a waiver, to take on all responsibility for what might happen to them if they go into the system.

Spectura


There are a whole range of games to look through, though the two most popular ones where the majority of players can be found are an open-world farming MMO called AgriTopia VI Ultimate, with bright landscapes and calming diegetic music, and Aegis Force, a tournament team shooter with short battle scenarios and smaller maps.

Those entering the system will fall unconscious in the real world and as they enter the problem will be pretty obvious straight away. Red vines, covering everything, tangling trees, creeping up buildings, coming straight for them to attack.

Anyone who gets overwhelmed by them will be stuck, unable to move or progress. It is possible to fight them off and for those voidtreckers who have faced the vines before they will find their soothing powers will work here as well.

People are tangled throughout many different games and once they are freed will need some help to find the next save point or exit. They need to help plant the final hundred potatoes, or team up to take down the level boss or solve the next puzzle, keep the vines away and free as many people as they can.

Tier Four

A Way In

As they leave the lifts they will find this tier is dark, dim lighting barely penetrating the smog. Homes are makeshift and all on top of each other. The streets are crowded, loud and people don't stop to chat. It is incredibly claustrophobic, with large support columns, exposed wires and large pipes running alongside and over the 'roads'.

Here there are plenty of stores selling anything and everything, certainly not above board. Credits are sometimes accepted but more often store keepers will prefer to trade in barters, food is popular. Anything that isn't nutri slime or the even worse unbranded basic version.

Bars and other seedy establishments are open all hours, neon signs beckoning. It is here that they will find the entry points to the fighting rings.

People don't talk about it openly but you look big enough, mean enough or dramatic enough then it will be slipped into conversation. Have you heard? Winners get a dream come true.

The fights are a mix of one on one and group fights. All terms are negotiated before hand with an overseer and fights are to the yield. The crowd wants a show and so dramatics are encouraged.

What was that?

The rumours about people going berserk are spoken in whispers. No one really knows what has gone on. A few fights have gotten out of control, a couple of fighters broke down after fights, at least one has quit for good. Most spoken about is The Crimson Fist. The best fighter in the ring who two days prior just left. Left the city with no protective gear, no word to anyone. No one knows what happened to them.

As the voidtreckers get further into their fights they will begin to realise something strange is going on. That opponent you are facing? They now look like your worst enemy, or perhaps your best friend, your lover. Sometimes you're no longer in the city but in a place of fond memories or your worst nightmares. Fights can very quickly go south when your opponent believes you their greatest foe.

Advancing the ranks now seems like it might be more difficult than first it appeared.
bakegarasu: (i see you)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-06-06 02:59 pm (UTC)(link)
He zips to the side, countering the punch with one of his own. He can feel the power in the other's punches, and part of him warns himself to be careful - but he's enjoying this fr too much to be cautious. The boast just gets a snort out of him, his attention focused on watching every muscle twitch and slight movement.

The next chance he gets he slips under Vegeta's punch and returns the blow to the side, hoping to stn him just enough to get an opening.
renegadeprince: (smile 05)

[personal profile] renegadeprince 2021-06-10 11:28 am (UTC)(link)
Vegeta hadn't been expecting that, registering it a moment after Otoha started to move, and realizing he was being far too over confident. Then again, Vegeta is not concerned with either getting hurt or losing, so this wasn't about being super serious, more getting to learn how the other fought. But he's not going to go too easy either, and as that blow landed to his side, Vegeta's tail snapped free from around his waist. It could had looked like a poor fashion choice, and that was half the benefit of having it wrapped around his waist like a belt. But right now it whipped around to encircle Otoha's arm, holding it there so the other man can't back up.

Then driving a knee up into Otoha's gut. To his word though, Vegeta does move to cross his own arms, planning to go with his little banter and fight without them.
bakegarasu: (stand my ground)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-06-11 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
Otoha yanks the tail with surprising strength - why not take the chance where he could get it? The knee in his gut gets literally no reaction - not even a pained exhale. Instead of trying to pull back, he lifts his leg to take advantage of Vegeta's leg moving.

He brings his foot up to smash it right between the saiyan prince's legs.
renegadeprince: (fighting 03)

[personal profile] renegadeprince 2021-06-15 07:40 am (UTC)(link)
Vegeta had to know that was coming, it only made sense, especially considering he was grabbing a limb with his tail, but in a way this is what he needed. He was still retraining it to full strength and his work in the gym could only do so much. It needed real life situations to really overcome it's limitations. So he's already cringing in pain at the tug, only for that kick to follow up, a sharp 'keh!' out from between his teeth as his back knee buckled. Half of him is annoyed that Otoha would resort to that. The other half would agree that you did anything to win in a fight.

But even with those hits, and Vegeta limiting himself, he's not going to go down easy. And if Otoha wants to play tug-of-war, Vegeta's happy to answer it; jerking his tail still wrapped around Otoha's arm back and downwards to his side, aiming to bring the other fighter down to the ground, preferably face first.
bakegarasu: (driven by hate)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-06-15 10:03 pm (UTC)(link)
There's a determination in Otoha's eyes, even as he's struggling. He's no match for the other physically, and his speed isn't helping him either. All he can do is try to tug the tail down with him. He gets to his knees and inhales sharply, pushing with even more strength to try to break free.

He won't kneel to anyone. Not now, not ever. Even as much as he hates a lot of what he was taught, surrender isn't an option.
renegadeprince: (annoyed 01)

[personal profile] renegadeprince 2021-06-18 10:36 am (UTC)(link)
Vegeta's tail released and quickly whipped back around his waist from Otoha's arm, but it's done at the peak of Otoha's push, so his own momentum would carry him. Before following up with snapping a hand out to grab at the other man before lifting him up and off the ground, or as much as Vegeta's height did in comparison to Otoha's.

"If this was another situation where we were equally matched I would fight you at my all, but I can't as I have no intent to kill you," He speaks, seeing that resolve in Otoha and understanding it. He wants to make sure the other man knows he wasn't mocking him, wasn't making fun of him by this all. Their levels were just too different. But he can see, and recognizes the other man as a fighter. "If you want this win, I will walk away now. Or I will at least end this fight with you standing on your feet, not fallen on the ground."
bakegarasu: (who's that rapping at my chamber door?)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-06-18 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
He takes a deep breath, weighing his options. He's not matched with this guy at all which is... surprising. He's at least ended on his feet, so he keeps his voice quiet as he mutters to Vegeta.

"... You can have it. Just let this finish without me kneeling or on the ground." He's got his standards, just as much as Vegeta has his own.
renegadeprince: (calm 05)

[personal profile] renegadeprince 2021-06-22 03:05 am (UTC)(link)
"Very well." Vegeta relaxed his grip, allowing Otoha's feet to return to the ground, but not fully letting go just yet, checking to see if the other could stand. "Can you make it out without help?" He seemed fine, or more fine than he should be, but adrenaline was a hell of a fuel to run on and Vegeta's not sure how much Otoha's staying up due to that.
bakegarasu: (wrong is right)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-06-22 06:15 am (UTC)(link)
He stood up easily, brushing off both Vegeta's hand and the offer of help. "I'm fine." He might need to find a healer, but Thanatos isn't going to ask questions. Or Asch, apparently. "Don't feel it. Can't, actually."

He grinned at Vegeta and went to walk out of the ring. What an interesting kind of guy...
renegadeprince: (confused 03)

[personal profile] renegadeprince 2021-06-25 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
That first part had been a shock, Vegeta was sure he would had done some damage, even if he hadn't fully intended to do anything serious, but that follow up to why Otoha was 'fine' stopped him for a brief moment. To not feel pain... that was both an advantage and a horrible disadvantage. Part of the battle could be to push past pain and keep fighting, but without it you could go so far that you couldn't recover, without specialized items at least.

And talking about specialized items, Vegeta moves in a way that looks like he's adjusting one of his gloves as he leaves the ring behind Otoha, following the other man, but once they were far enough outside of the immediate audience and so most would not see what he was doing, Vegeta grabbed for Otoha's hand. "Eat this. It'll fully heal you and give you full energy back, you'll be able to fight again right away." Leaving a sensu bean in Otoha's hand as Vegeta pulled back his own, another glove adjustment for the extra stock he had hidden away in there, making sure they were safe.
bakegarasu: (we all find ourselves)

We can thread end here!

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-06-25 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
He starts moving, just trying to casually scan for any of the healers, and suddenly his hand gets grabbed. He nearly falls into a fighting stance before he realizes what's going on, and suddenly there's a bean in his hand.

Huh.

He reaches up and makes like he's scratching his face before popping it into his mouth. Chewing it is a little... odd, but as he swallows it he can feel all of his wounds closing up and his energy bouncing back.

Magic sure can do a lot. He nods to Vegeta and walks off towards the bathroom. Time to get ready for whatever the next fight is.