So Familiar a Gleam: Start

[voidtreckermods]

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JINNJAR CITY

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"Welcome to Jinnjar City! A city famed as the central power of all of Diagad, and where the magic happens. It has a big history: the birthplace of the first Heroes Association that led to the creation of the Interstellar Justice Alliance, the protectors of the universe. Compared to other places, Diagad's what many people call a superheroes world, but that isn't true. A lot of us don't have the crazy powers that some of the popular folks have! And people like me? We don't care about saving the world! I'm just trying to make it through school, hang out with friends. Live my life!

People tell thousands of stories about us though, and that I can be proud of. When other planets call for help, it's us that comes running to their aid. Our heroes put their lives on the line for anyone who needs a hand, and sure, I don't count myself one of them... but I want to share their story anyway.

Well, I don't need to be telling you about this city, do I? You're a part of it! Always have been, just like me. So I should talk about some funny stuff that's been going on lately instead…”

---

A TL;DR notes version of days/prompts: (click to show)

EVENT BASICS: Un-apped AU characters were taken 1 week before the event from their own worlds, their minds altered to believe they were always from Jinnjar, Diagad. They have a superpower because of this and a new life either living alone or with family (other NPCs or PCs). Go to the OOC post for more info.

DAYS ONE-TWO:

• Strange streams of colour in the sky have appeared, and looking at them for too long causes strange headaches. At this point you’re not sure what they’re about, but you can investigate them. However, trying to get right close to them is impossible. You will never get high enough. Regardless, let us know if characters will be investigating anything!
  
  
• Voidtreckers arrive, be on the lookout. People are excited about finding these infamous criminals, and may be bothering those wearing peculiar watches, or the colours of Blue, Red, Purple, or Orange. You might be one of them: the bothered, or botheree. Many games or movie criminals are some adaptation of these Voidtreckers. A lot of people are worried they’re behind the phoenonem in the sky.
  
  
• Nevertheless, people will still have their own lives to deal with, regardless of worrying events. Play around with what job your character has, if they’re in school, what work they do; if they’re drawn to a night life or just hanging around wherever they like. Characters not used to technology in-canon may find themselves having trouble with this world (despite believing they’ve always lived here).
  
  
• Some of the Voidtreckers who are most resistant to illusions and mind control will be breaking out by the end of the first day. They will have to lay low and plot in secret, figure out how to make contact with others. The SCA comms do not work.
  
  
• Other Voidtreckers might begin having dreams about their past by day 2-3.

DAYS THREE-FOUR:

• Those who have been brought to the world begin to dream of their real and past lives, if just in very small and confusing snippets. Some of those dreams may bleed into reality, and people may start to recognise absolute strangers, but don't quite always know why. This is stronger for Voidtreckers than 4th wallers.
  
  
• Random electronics seem to be glitching in odd ways, particularly the training centres, which lock people in together, even random strangers. Mostly it's harmless and more of a pain. People also swear they think they see the tops of buildings 'glitching' or colouring out. People have been speaking about pets going missing on walks, though the zoos and such are mostly fine, save for some of the higher up bird sanctuaries.
  
  
• More of the Voidtreckers and some of the more resilient guests will begin realising the reality of the place they find themselves in. That this is not their own world at all.
  
  
• The propaganda of the city starts to escalate, warnings about the dangerous voidtreckers and reminding people of how great the city is.

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DAYS ONE & TWO: SLICES OF LIFE

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"This is an emergency broadcast to everyone in Jinnjar City. At 08:00 today, a breach into the city was attempted by the invading force known as the Voidtreckers, who have tried countless times before to take over Diagad for themselves. While it's believed the group was resisted, citizen are advised to watch out for anyone acting suspiciously in the city, and to watch out for this emblem. Please call the D-F-O-R-C-E hotline if you see anyone you suspect of being an intruder! Remember to keep low altitudes while we deal with the phenomenon above."

[ RAINBOW SKIES. ] "Everyone's been speculating about what's been going on up above. About a week ago, these long streams of twisting colours suddenly spread through the purple skies of Diagad, rainbow colours inking the clouds. They've been growing out, like merging with the sky itself, and news broadcasts have been telling people not to worry. But what even are they? They say that looking at them for too long causes headaches, while some swear up and down they've seen things in them! I've heard a couple of friends talking about investigating them, but I dunno..."

▷ Twisting streams of colour are becoming exposed in the sky, and indeed, those who look too long high up will find themselves receiving headaches and dizziness. They’ll fade once you look away, but those who do decide to investigate by getting close will experience a tug, as if something yearns to take them somewhere. There will be patrolling Heroes - this world's equivalent of police - keeping an eye on things. Maybe your character is one of them, or posing as one. Maybe your character wants to learn more about what these are. Regardless, they won’t be able to get significantly close to the streams no matter how high they aim.

[ THE VOIDTRECKERS. ] "Gossip is HOT about these Voidtreckers. I remember seeing a movie about them once, based on something that happened years ago. They tried hacking their way into taking over a dyson sphere being built - like a giant structure around a star. There's other stories about them too, but are they really the ones behind this? Who are we even meant to be on the lookout for? I don't know... I'm kinda spooked. But do they seriously ride around in a flying train?"

▷ You've heard about the Voidtreckers, whether you remember stories about them or not. Are you bothered about them? The news broadcasts say they got rid of them - then why are they asking people to look out? And what are you supposed to look out for? On top of the emblem, there's chatter going on about watching out for people wearing strange devices on their wrists, and wearing colours of Blue, Red, Purple, and Orange.

Will you defend your city from these mysterious foes? Be smart about it, or rash? Or maybe you're interested to know more for your own deeds… whether or not they’re the Voidtreckers of tale, they may have resources for furthering your own goals.

[ LIVING YOUR LIFE. ] “But nevermind all that! Life’s about having fun and hanging out with your friends too. I work part time, but I’ve got plans after my shift’s done! Doing some shopping, going to see a movie. I can’t stress out about the funny stuff going on. And I heard the new waiter in my favourite cafe is suuuper cute!”

▷ Despite the few anomalies going on, you still have a life part of Jinnjar City. You have a job filled with devices that you’ve been surrounded by all your life, or certainly longer than a week or, so you know how to work a coffee machine, right? You know how to drive an air taxi!

And where would you take one to? To anywhere: to the gym, one of the training centres, a spa, to the movies - normal things that everyone around the city have always been around. Meet up with some friends for fruit smoothies, or watch one of the shadow displays held by the Georgi’s Gang around every street, putting on shows to mesmerise and delight the kids.

Or how about buying your groceries to take back to your apartment or house? You know what all these fruits are! Right? Right?

… … maybe it’s produce from another planet.

DAYS THREE & FOUR: JUST ANOTHER NORMAL DAY

---

[ DREAMS. ] “Dreams are just dreams, but a lot of people have been talking about them. Like, really being disturbed by them? Not in a creepy ohhh a monster’s coming for me! way, but like, they say they see worlds they swear they’ve been to before. Or see people? I wouldn’t really think about it except, there’s this guy… not like a super cute guy, but someone I think I knew…”

▷ Talk about dreams have been popular lately, though not everyone has them - or, not right away. Sometimes people may be at work, in school, doing nothing in particular when a name (important to their real self) appears in their mind, a flash of scenery. Coming as quickly as it goes. They don’t know what it means, if it isn’t just a symptom of the latest weird gossip influencing them.

But it sticks with you, something you can’t completely dismiss. But surely it’s nothing - right?

[ ANOMALIES. ] ”Just what we need! My friend’s dog’s gotten lost! She was taking him for a walk, and then she just says he went running ahead, and poof! Disappeared! Maybe he saw a cat? He’s always been a lazy chubby thing, but even dogs can’t help themselves, I guess…”

▷ The colours in the sky seem brighter today, closer...but it’s difficult to say for some, unless you’re actively studying them. Sometimes when you look above, you might catch - if just for a second - the tops of roofs glitching out, corners or streaks erased, colours meshing with the walls. You think it might be the light or your eyes, as it never lasts long, and even standing around waiting to see it happen again won’t give you what you want.

You may have other things to worry about than tricks of the light. Animals have simply been...disappearing, and always the ones owned, or particularly birds that fly around freely. People will ask you for help, and it’s weird they need to. Most owners have a tracker chip and app, and either apps show a blank map, or show them just standing in place...a place that when you get there, is nothing, no one.

[ TRAINING CENTRE. ]
“Really though, other than the weird sky business and how jumpy the news has made everyone about the Voidtreckers, the only odd thing that’s been up is some weird stuff happening at the training gyms. Even I saw it! I was just doing my warm-ups for the day when the field I set it to, the sky...these shapes suddenly appeared, dark and looming. It seriously creeped me out. But it’s just a glitch, right?”

▷ Young or old, the training centres around the central district are a popular spot for everyone to give their powers a safe space to be unleashed. While there’s basic simulations that’s free for everyone to use, people can be personal trainers, or even run group sessions in the bigger rooms.

Sessions aren’t always linked, since getting private training is allowed. However, lately, people keep getting jumped into other’s sessions, and can’t get out until they finish the routine. Sometimes they’re simple, where you need to destroy building block-esque cubes, or superspeed through courses twenty times. But then there’s also story modes, such as…

Castle Defence: Help protect the castle of Erna from the tricky Voidtreckers! They’re trying to storm the castle, and the world needs your power to help keep them away. Difficulty is based on the amount of people present, and speed of the individual. Do you turn things green? Then turning a Voidtrecker green will make them pop! Good job!

Kama Aid: Floating spheres have been lured inside a giant 3-tiered labyrinth ball. You must help the spheres - come in optional people-shaped or even cute animals - be released back outside where the air is fresh. Use telekinesis to tilt the tiers like a ball tilting game, or use super-strength to destroy the different tiers!

Dia Mysteries: A theft, vandalism, maybe even a murder. The crime scene is locked down, and something is afoot. Use your telepathy to gain information from the suspects, sneak into a secure area under invisibility... the solution is yours to find in this investigative simulation.

[ A PSA or Six. ] ”Stay vigilant citizens of Diagad. Please report any suspicious behavior to the DFORCE force.”

Announcements blare from speakers on public transport. Adverts pop up as they scroll through Diagnet. All remind citizens to be on their guard, report strange or disturbing behaviour and keep a look out for any of the symbols or colours of the Voidtreckers.

"Heroes don't keep secrets! If you have suspicions about any dangerous people in our midst, let your local DFORCE force know. Speak the Truth. Save the World."

▷ Billboards are plastered with bold posters reminding citizens to keep an eye out for the Voidtreckers or anyone who they might have tried to sway to their side. For those beginning to glimpse that this city might not be what they once had thought, this could be dangerous especially if their families and friends believe the city truly is under threat.

---

credits: text box - city banner - city side - coloured sky by benjamin0000

Comments

Quatre Raberba Winner | Voidtrecker | Purple Team

[gundamofthedesert]

I. Just a Normal Day
As far as he knew, he had always been here. Quatre had been living in the city all his life as far as he knew. Now he had been living alone in the apartment that had been left to him by his family, going to the training centre almost every day. The news about the Voidtreckers had him on edge. He had heard about them all of his life. Now the news was just making him more and more on edge.

He had happened to be running over to the training centre, a bag of lunch in his hand. He had packed one of the strange pieces of fruit that had been in the grocery store. It was not something that he had seen before, but there hadn’t been many other options. He paused on the street, looking over towards some of those on the other side of the street. He frowned for a moment, almost as if he had been expecting someone on the other side of the street to suddenly be a Voidtrecker. After a moment, he turned and suddenly ran into someone who happened to be next to him.

“I’m so sorry.”

II. Dreams
Quatre had been seeing a lot of strange things when he slept at night. The images that had been planned in his head… he wasn’t sure what to make of them. There were other people he had never seen before, strange buildings, strange ships, but he wasn’t sure what they were.

He happened to be sitting in the park on the day after one of the dreams, a notebook in his hand. He was doodling in the book some of the strange images from the dream.

i

[flatteries]

Inigo does let out a slight 'oof' noise as someone just bodily runs into him like that. But he seems fine enough, especially since the impact wasn't big enough to knock either of them over - and so he just smiles, rather than seeming offended as the bump.

"Heh, it's fine! No apologies necessary." He shakes his head with the same smile, but then after a moment he seems to realise what that lingering expression on the other's face is. The other guy looks a little.. worried, maybe, Inigo thinks?

So he doesn't walk away right away, instead lingering as he asks: "Are you alright?"

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre smiled back, pleased that he hadn't been offended by him running into him. He could help the worried look on his face though.

"Oh... yeah. Just wondering about the Voidtrecker group that tried to break in."

[flatteries]

"Ah.."

The sound Inigo makes is mostly one of understanding. He gets it, really. Even though he may - sometimes - on the outside pretend that he isn't some huge worrier himself, he's been pretty worried about the announcements going around too. Especially since there seem to be so many of them.

"They really are making these people sound dangerous, right?" And it's not that Inigo isn't willing to believe it. Oh, he's more than willing to believe it. It's just.. "It doesn't sound like anything bad has happened so far though, thankfully. Maybe they already caught them."

[gundamofthedesert]

"They do. I mean... it's weird. There are a lot of announcements to be careful, but nothing has actually happened."

He crossed his arms for a moment, frowning a moment as he thought about it.

"I guess they must have caught them or stopped them. But I can't help but wonder. You know... it's just so strange."

[flatteries]

Inigo shakes his head.

"You know, maybe we just shouldn't think about this so hard!" Ah yes, this is clearly the solution for when something is too strange to simply figure out. You just stop thinking about it altogether. Just shut down that brain.

"After all, if it's just going to make us worried or miserable, what's the point? We might as well just enjoy ourselves. If something bad happens, when we'll deal with it in that moment!" Inigo laughs. "Just some advice from a stranger."

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre thought about that for a moment. "Yeah, I guess that's true. If there is something suspicious we are bound to see it so there's no point in spending all of our time just waiting for it to happen."

Made sense to him. He just didn't want to get complacent.

[flatteries]

"Right!" Inigo agrees, rather cheerfully.

But then he goes quiet for a moment.

"You still don't seem too happy though." It's not that he's suspecting anything, really. It's more just a worried comment. He gets that the current situation is difficult, but Inigo doesn't really want to see anyone look so unhappy because of it.

[gundamofthedesert]

"Well... I just don't want anything to happen to anyone. I feel like I should keep an eye out to make sure no one is hurt by these Voidtreckers."

[flatteries]

He hums. It sounds like he's thinking. Technically Inigo should probably be going on with his day, but he'd feel bad just leaving this guy behind with his worries..

So after a moment he shakes his head, speaking up once more. "Well, then why don't we go take a look around town together, huh? I suppose I have some time."

And having a walk might be good for him too.

"Maybe we can spot something suspicious together."

[gundamofthedesert]

Unfortunately, even in his illusion, Quatre still had the knack for being able to blame himself for anything. It was a wonderful talent that he had. And it was not going to stop now.

Quatre was lost in thought for a moment until Inigo suggested that. "Yes, that sounds like a good idea. Let's do that. Two people would be better than one."

[flatteries]

"Let's go then!" Inigo says, as he's already starting to set out - taking steady steps to really get them going here.

He's already relieved enough that the other gave in to his plan. Maybe this way he can keep Quatre's thoughts from going to any weird places. Not that he really thinks they'll spot anything all that suspicious though. If it's suspicious enough for them to notice, surely one of the official heroes would've taken care of it already.

"Do you happen to have some sort of power that could help us with this?"

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre was more than happy to follow along with him. It was a good distraction, yes, having someone to "help" him watch for anything suspicious. Now, he would feel more secure that if they didn't see anything, they really didn't see anything.

"I have fire powers... I mainly use it to heat up tea. I don't think that will help. What about you?"

ii

[blitzcheer]

Tidus takes a seat on the bench next to the guy, not really checking out his face. Head in its own clouds, but he was keeping his eyes off from the sky above. There were enough headaches going on, like the ones following him at night, how-- frustrating everything's been since yesterday.

He takes out his phone, scrolling through the contacts for a name, looks at the guy beside him just in a sideglance kind of way -- and pauses, staring at him for longer.

(kinda rude, dude.)

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre didn't notice him for a long moment, having been distracted by his drawing, but finally, he noticed the other when he just kind of... kept staring at him. He looked over and gave a smile.

"Hello."

[blitzcheer]

"Eh, uh, oh, hi!" Hello, guy I definitely (have) haven't been staring at for way too long! Tidus goes through the motions of lifting a hand in greeting, looking quickly away, but then looking right back, the embarrassment not have left his face.

"Do we...have we been in the same classes? I swear I recognise you from somewhere." Somewhere...else? "Maybe in...highschool?"

[gundamofthedesert]

It was fine. He didn't seem offended by it. He glanced back at his doodle as Tidus spoke before looking back.

"Maybe? I feel like I have seen you somewhere before... but I don't know where."

[blitzcheer]

Hmm, that was to be the place, right? He wouldn't think he saw him on the stage or somewhere like that, so Tidus wonders, trying to rack his brain.

"Maybe...something crafty? A crafts-show?" Oh, now that- "I'm thinking...building! Uh, like..."

What's he thinking, what's he thinking...

"...a pyramid?"

[gundamofthedesert]

"A pyramid?"

That sounded like such a strange way to know someone. A pyramid... at a craft show? None of that made any sense.

But at the same it... it also seemed to make perfect sense somehow.

"Maybe... I seem to remember that too."

[blitzcheer]

"So you did build one?" He can barely envision one, but he's even more sure now it had to be that. Some kind of craft show!

"Yeah, you must've. You build things, right? What are you making these days?"

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre was silent for a long moment, looking back down at his doodle. Somehow the comment about building things... made sense, but he had no idea of how. This was really weird.

"That... seems... I don't know about pyramids, but something about building makes sense..."

[blitzcheer]

"Oh." Oh - no pyramids? Tidus thinks about it quietly for a moment. "There might've been one at the show. Sometime...last year?"

With how foggy his memory is about it, or both of their memories. He looks back at the guy. "Does that sound familiar? What do you normally make?"

[gundamofthedesert]

"Hmm... maybe... there must have been a show. I seem to remember... we were talking about them. And maybe other buildings that kind of look like them."

He looked down at his notebook again at the question. "I don't know... could this be something someone would make?" He showed Tidus the drawing.

[blitzcheer]

Tidus scoots close enough to peer at the drawings shown, and he tries his best to think - did those buildings look familiar? Anything there? - but the frown he wears doesn't disappear.

"I don't know... sorry," he offers sheepishly, looking back up to Quatre. "But I'm sure of it. You invented, or made something! And there... there's something about the stars, or - the world? Something that goes around the world."

A transport? Oh! "Did you wanna make airships?"

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre looked at it again before looking back at Tidus. "Maybe. Airships seems oddly familiar, but I don't know how. And how... did you want to do something with airships or was I telling you about them?"