middleofsomewhere | Fissures of Time: Start

Fissures of Time: Start

"Good Morning Voidtreckers, today is day eight of the month of Poi."
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 appears...

FISSURES OF TIME: START

... BASE CAMP

THE VOIDTRECKER EXPRESS LANDS CLOSE TO A GIANT OF A FORTRESS SAT ATOP A HILL, A RIVER BORDERING THE WAY TO A NEARBY TOWN. 'Please head to the location marked on your map,' the Voidtrecker Express speaks through the intercoms before opening the doors out.

Passing the threashold, Voidtreckers are welcomed to a mild heat, accompanied by a passing spring breeze; the grass underfoot is a healthy wheat-yellow, with a few unfamiliar flowers dotted about. Checking their maps, they'll see they're at the very far southwest, and their their destination is the fortress - or temple - a small walk from way they are. They'll know they're heading the right direction when two figures dressed in their own military gear meet them halfway, neither human.

'Voidtreckers?' One greets with a nod, then jerks their head to the fortress. 'Follow us. We'll tell you and give you what you need; get you ready for the week you're in for.'

Voidtreckers that follow are led into spacious halls, a Grecian-like architecture with columns carved into flowering patterns, statues of idols lining the walls. There's a faint murmur of activity, but they don't see too many people before they're led into a nearby room filled with containers that close in the space. Even as they enter, a holographic map floats visibly mid-air like the one on their SCAs.

The two people go to either side of it, and it's the one from earlier that speaks again.

'This is Kolokifi's domain- most of it, anyway. Down here where we are is Eilifi's land. Another god, but a history lesson isn't what you need unless you ask for it. All up this way-' the person makes a circular motion in front of the map, leaving a visible mark on it. '--is where time distortions will be happening. The easy explan' of them is that points in the past get pulled into the present - echoes of them. Fragments, moments - Time here got well and screwed up, and tries to bring up points in the past to the present.

'Now, some have a problem with getting rid of the slips of the people that come through, so I'm going to get into that now. Thing is, if they can stick around? They will, but most of them can't. All of this is just Time trying to make a copy of the past appear, so thinking you can leave the distortions alone make everyone whole? Isn't going to work as well as you think. It just makes more problems, and that isn't pretty.' They snort. 'They're gonna fight and sound like people 'cause they are - real unfortunate, unlucky sods. If you're gonna have problems with it, don't deal with them. Leave 'em to whoever with you can, or send a signal for us on the maps. Double tap the area and then get out. There's no point gettin' trauma on top of what's already on your plate.'

Finally they nod to the various containers around.

'But don't worry, it isn't all sad shit. You've got fields to deal with too, open spaces. Boring work, but it's what we're here for. So if you're going, let's get you ready. And you come back here when you need anything.'

GEARING UP. They go through the different roles required, what's best to be done, what does what. They'll be shown how to work an equaliser, how to fit and wear the eye and earpieces - with other designs available if needed - to use the remote-controlled scouting drones.

Take the time to open up an equaliser box yourself, try to work a scouting drone. There are also medical kits, with boxes containing herbal medicine 'blessed by the Spring god here - make sure you can take it,' the Ministry worker helping them warns. There's devices in all of the kits, small scanners to double-check that a medicine won't react poorly to whatever it scans. Similar technology to what the SCAs use, but more advanced.

There's no rush to leave, and the group will also be shown where some spare carts and animals for pulling are outside, for packing up supplies on.

STAYING BACK. But people don't need to go. They can stay with the Voidtrecker Express, use a few facilities in the Ministry base, or wander the immediate area, so long as they don't go beyond the river that down the hill the fortress sits on. There's the train itself that people can stick to, take pillows and their blankets outside to enjoy the fresh air.

Or you could be coming back this way during the mission. The Ministry base has a kitchen free to use, water, and every day fresh fruit and vegetables come in carts from the same figure, flour and oats. If someone wants, they can take some of the food, or use it to make supplies for the Voidtreckers to receive if they come back this way, or other missionaries.

How they spend their time is up to them.

... KOLOKIFI'S DOMAIN

FOR A WEEK, VOIDTRECKERS WILL BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE SAME TORN, SCARRED LAND. Despite the skies being a clearer silver-grey nearer to the Ministry base, it keeps close to a blood-red as Voidtreckers wander its terrain. Heat clings to them in the dry air, the dirt as parched as the scenery leaves the eyes.

Those with scouting droners would do well to getting used to their new toys while they travel, watching out for what lies ahead. Though just from looking at it, there's nothing but the same drained landscape. Those who can fly may be tempted to do so, to get ahead. Those with superspeed, what's the point of hanging around? But eventually, everyone will learn what happens if you simply wander around here...

WHAT ONCE WAS. Sometimes, the time distortions are innocuous - a glimpse into peaceful times, a view of the world as it once was. A step, one single move forward into a time distortion, and the world around you changes. Gone is the suffering heat and chalky environment, and the world blossoms. Wild yellow-grass sways every-which way, the sky sits with fluffy clouds against and blushed pink than the blood-red.

You can move around, explore for a little while, but up until a point, the world just stops: you run, you fly, you walk, but it makes no difference.

...It also means you can't leave. Well, good thing your SCA still works to ask for help.

These time distortions will be the simplest to deal with, only occupied by a few wild animals, maybe fish in a stream. A good place to practice with the equaliser, and to watch as the scenery fades to the stark reality of the present day.

UNEARTHED WAR. But then, peace isn't what led this land into the state it is. The skies are a lavender and red, and sometimes:

Mother Nature

'Who goes there!'

'You're no warrior of Kolokifi! Come quietly under her mercy, or suffer her judgment!'

( MOD NOTE: Play these scenarios to whatever degree you like; people can be knocked unconscious or situations can't be helped. Choose what is best for yourself or your character. )

IDYLLIC LIFE. Except, it's not a battlefield that is the hardest to deal with. There are the instances of peace, but when it comes with those more aware than just the flowers or animals - but with people.

Sometimes, they might be moved around: a pair on a picnic, or people with tents by a lake, enjoying themselves. Or, you might get asked what you're up to, asked to join them. Perhaps it's a merchant going to the next town. 'Kolokifi may be a blessed God, but you know Silifi's fields bring their best this time of year.'

They may disappear, without knowing what you were doing - or realise something is wrong, just towards the end. Steel your heart.

The hardest are the towns, sections of them, and moving around them, trying to find the best place to set up.

But if an equaliser goes off too early, doesn't get set in the best place (was it because the best place was in a river? Where a house is, with nowhere to set the equaliser?), then fractions of this settlement will start to disappear - and the civillians will notice, and the panic will be quick.

If it becomes too tough, remember: A marker can be set on the maps and a call made for another group - non-Voidtreckers - to do the job.

HEAVY HEARTS IN REST. There will be enough for four separate camps to be set out from the supplies, the tents wide and spacious to put in simple bedding for the stragglers from the time distortions that do make it out.

It's here where they should be brought. Calm them down, reassure them, until you can find someone to take them to the Ministry base. This will be some work, depending on how panicked they are, distrustful. The less care and stealth used when setting Equalisers and getting rid of time distortions, the less reason these people will have to care about what the Voidtreckers have to offer - and they're already scared.

Kids, adults, the elderly - they'll try to make their escape, and sometimes end up in new distortions.

Voidtreckers will need to coordinate well with the different camps, with where their people are going. There's only so many Equalisers, and it is good to keep moving around.

And very likely, this will be a mission heavier on the heart than the body. Speak with one another, share in the weight of this world's tragedy.

OOC NOTES

OOC post. Ask questions here. Let us know about shenanigans here. NPC requests here, set up a thread here. Rewards go here.

Reminder of goals: Red Team is to deal with the heavier war-time distortions, keeping Orange people setting Equalisers safe, who will also use scouting drones + other methods to locate distortions. Purple Team aids in the smaller, more scattered distortions (includes 'idyllic' distortions), and helping Blue locate misplaced people, keeping them safe. Blue also protects and moves the camps.

NPC fighters: Their skills vary, depending on what you want to come up against. But they have guns, swords, shielding; nature can be particularly vengeful, and even typhoons might be deployed. People will be rewound from where they're going to where they were; and warriors sometimes have their own quick means of healing.

Play with whatever obstacles you want! As ever you don't have to stick to the prompts we write, this is a setting where a lot of wildness can happen so feel free to write your own distortions to take down! Also, again: For anything traumatic, you can have your characters miss anything too distressing for them. There are a lot of time distortions in very ordinary settings.

Further Prompt Ideas: Click!

Blue Team:

You're dealing with a misplaced person, and how agreeable are they? Did they run off on foot? Or use the cart animal in the night? Now you're looking for them - and either with or without them, you've ended up in a time distortion.
The camp's moving, and you're setting up for the first time, packing away for the second. Are you used to the heat? The repetition?
You've got food from the train to work with for meals, but the Ministry has packed everyone a mix too. Some ration foods that you add water to, but also an orso-like pasta and types of chicken breast (at least, it tastes like chicken), cooking sauces, pita breads. Does your character know how to cook?
You just want a change of scenery, and someone in the camp is going to one of the time distortions. Maybe you go along, just to bring out some food, or just out of curiosisty.
There's nothing stopping you from using a scouting drone - actually, being in one place makes it easy. You can speak to people through the drone. How much can you help from afar?

Orange Team:

It's your job to set up Equalisers. How confusing are they to you? Do you get unlucky? Does it jam at a bad time?
You have to set up an Equaliser in a settlement. And if it wasn't bad enough, there's nowhere good to put them except in someone's backyard/right in front of a shop stall. These people aren't pleased. They're going to get suspicious!
This distortion is too big for the amount of Equalisers you and the other person have with you. Do you realise this? Even when it's a peaceful distortion, this can be tricky - you have to pack one up and move it! Or the worst happens when you set them off, and only erase half the place - and people notice.

Red Team:

Fire burns around you as war rages. The equalisers need to be set but to get them in place the fires need put out. Tricky when there are a whole bunch of soldiers currently lighting them.
Red's job is to deal with the obstacles of the more physical-demanding distortions, but that doesn't mean they're easy to find. You end up in scenic landscapes - and you're not the person with an equaliser.
Sometimes - or most of the time - the fighters are not match for your strength. But sometimes, these warriors have skills that can manage to get you defenceless, maybe even nullify your powers.
Do you care about murder? Sometimes, it's simple self-defence - they're attacking first. But not everyone in a war time distortion is an attacker - sometimes they're normal civillians caught up in the chaos. Maybe they even help you, take your side - and you know they're soon going to disappear.
Even Red Team needs a break now and then. Wandering around at random just drops you into distortions that you can find a way to deal with. Or are you seeing what you can do? Maybe there's more that can be done than just waiting on Orange Team.
But even so, there are camps moving around - you should head back to one. Or will you risk sleeping out where a distortion might hit?

Purple Team:

Whilst helping in a town based distortion so thing goes wrong. The market has vanished and people have noticed. Specifically these angry traders, heading towards your team with the intent to stop them in their tracks.
People aren't the only problem. A distortion has spooked a heard of animals and they are stampeding. This makes it very difficult to place Equalisers.
You stumble upon a couple of chatty locals in this distortion. The equalisers still need to be set without causing suspicion so someone needs to be a distraction. How do you make small talk with people you are about to erase from time?
Often it is the terrain that makes things difficult. Clear trees or rockfalls or find a route across a difficult river.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, that was an unexpected reply. A little defensive, perhaps. Faux hadn't even asked about programs. Naoya creates programs? Like his user, and Roy? But what does he mean by convincing people? Did he meet them somehow like his user did?

Unless he's got everything completely wrong? Is Naoya talking about the lightcycle?

Perhaps this should be something to file away for the future, and for further review.

"A lightcycle," he nods towards Naoya's rod, "isn't a true program, it's just a simple script. At least in every system I've ever been on." He eyes his own baton strapped to his thigh, now with these strange ideas. There could be that odd system where a lightcycle could talk to him. In which he'd have to apologies profusely at the inevitable destruction he'd cause to it...

He quickly shakes them off though.

"I'm sorry to hear that you are also lost to your home world. And by others who chose to do so." Being stolen is never a good experience. Being stolen multiple times, from Faux's experience, is even worse.

"True. But in my home world I'm a programmer, and the people who didn't know a lot about computers had some different ideas about how things worked because of our time in the Grid. As for the lightcycle... yes, it's a script. Though I modified it somewhat to make it go faster."

As for being lost to his home world... "I'll get back there eventually. The skills that allowed us to bridge worlds don't work here, unfortunately. I'm not certain why. But I'll get back to my world in time. I have a score to settle there, after all."

Faux is a little confused, but it sounds like Naoya was speaking of the lightcycle after all. He's having a hard time comprehending a possible version of a world where programs aren't themselves, where all programs a data-pushers or scripts.

So he nods, still not entirely sure if he has reached the right conclusion. But an argument about the nature of if programs are alive is not a conversation for a hostile desert, especially when he has no knowledge of how programs are written, and when he's still more interested in the lightcycle, and how Naoya is a programmer! A real user!

One thing Faux has picked up on is that Naoya seems to be sure of himself, and of finding his way back. "I haven't managed that yet. Though I suppose I don't know of any way to 'bridge worlds'. Seems like a handy skill to have." When apparently it works. If Naoya can 'bridge worlds', perhaps he has a digitizing laser?

"May I ask, how do you modify things here?" he pulls off his own baton, showing the item to Naoya, "A lightcycle is code, and yet it seems to operate outside a system," like himself, "My creator said we couldn't exist in a user world. How do you go about changing the parameters of it's code here?"

"It is... I'm not planning on going back to my world right away." But he grins as Faux asks for more technical details. This? This is what he lives for. Tech. At least in this life.

"While in the version of the Grid I went to, I picked up a skill that allows me to interface with technology just by touching it. It can be... a bit exhausting, but it's also highly useful for changing things when you don't have some form of terminal. It has to have some form of ...."

How to put this in more basic terms? "It can't be something simple like a flashlight or a watch. It has to have some form of coding. However it allows me to transfer information to other people with the ability as well - though it doesn't translate as well as it would to something with code."

"I see." He nods, keenly immersed in what Naoya has to say. It's not what he was expecting. He rubs at his chin in thought, "A skill, outside of user abilities? I've never known how users do things from the outside. Then, I've never known about data being able to exist outside in user space either."

Eyeing off his baton, he hasn't given anything more than his staff and sword a test out here. He'd thought it too dangerous right now for his light cycle given all the time distortions around... perhaps he was playing it a tad too cautious.

"What I could do is not far from what you described of your skill, touching code, altering it to a degree. Even data communication," though users were notorious for not being able to do that well, if at all, "That was intrinsic to my functions though. I was capable of doing it in the last system before coming here," his enthusiasm dips, "Now..., I haven't been able to sense much of anything. Like I'm detached from the system itself. Though I suppose I am."

"I see. That makes some amount of sense. What were your functions intended to be, if it's not too rude to ask?"

Sure, he wants to pry. But he has to remember to be polite with people who are on the same side as him. He doesn't need to go around making enemies just yet.

Divulging his functions to another program, it might matter. But to a user? Especially one here?

"I was originally compiled as an intrusion program; a hack-bot," giving a tilt of his head at the colloquial term, "however, my creator moved me onto his own custom written system where I was upgraded as a system administrator for it, initially." The first few cycles were hard, but a happy time.

"So I've always had some level of inherent code manipulation. Being a sys-admin just gave me added access and privileges. Though, to be honest," he crosses his arms, "it's no fun breaking into things when you own every key to the kingdom. Gets a little dull."

He laughs a little bit at that. "Oh, I understand that. Even before I gained that ability I was a hacker. There's a good amount of fun to be had into breaking into where you're not supposed to be. I've been a sys-admin before, and it's... good and all, but the responsibility can also get boring."

He likes this program. They've got some things in common. "I take it you never really communicated with your user directly?"

A hacker and a sys-admin! Finally, someone who understands!

Responsibility. Though an honored privilege, is also ostensibly tiring to maintain. Being confined to a single system, when his code yearned to perform his original tasks, yes, he wanted to prove his worth, that he be a 'good' program for his system. But as Naoya aptly put; it was rather boring.

Though Naoya does have one thing wrong-

Faux hardens at the comment, his circuits dimming a bit, unsure if he should be smiling or scowling. Tiredly, he explains, "Oh I have. He used to visit us in our system via a digitization laser. By the sounds of it, you don't have one of those." shrugging, "I thought that perhaps you may have."

"Oh, I see." An interesting concept... he'll have to look into the theory more. Another time, though. "No, I don't have anything of the sort. The place I was in last sent us directly in, since it was a 'world between worlds' - no laser needed. But it must have been a little shocking at first to meet your user. I can't imagine that's a common thing amongst programs."

Nayoa confirm the lack of a digitizing laser, and he gives a nod.

His other question though, "Yeah, it's definitely not a usual thing. Users to programs are worshiped like these ahh user deities here," Faux gives a nod in the direction of the temple at home base, "He's the first I ever met, the only one any program had ever met; before I landed in that last system I told you about." A frown starts to form on his face. Talking about his creator isn't something he can do yet. Not like this. He still isn't over the fact that Flynn had abandoned everyone, the entire system for more than a thousand cycles.

That conflict wains when it comes to more lighthearted topic. At least when it comes to his user. His frown may have just had an inkling of a smile in it.

With a scratch to his jaw, "I aahh, may have grievously insulted my creator when he first showed up." and he continued to be mortified by the memory for so long, "In my defense; who expects their creator to be the random program assigned to your lighcycle team on a death match?" He says, shrugging hard.

Edited 2022-02-06 14:44 (UTC)

"you've got a fair point there. I've met my creator as well, though not face to face. It wasn't a pleasant meeting on that end, either." And that's what he's going to leave that as.

"But you seem to have come out of it all right, so I'm glad he at least seems to have been a relatively benevolent sort." If one of his programs sassed him, he probably wouldn't be nearly so kind as to let it get off without some kind of punishment - or at least a serious discussion.

Faux hadn't even known users had users of their own until coming here. But that makes sense. After what Naoya describes of his own experience, the feeling from his words makes it sound that he has his own troubles and probably should be left well alone. He keeps it to a nod of acknowledgment.

Now, 'coming out alright' highly depends on how one would define that. But he gets what Naoya means. He thinks. Flynn may have been complacent, but for all his faults, yes, he was still a relatively benevolent sort. Too benevolent even.

"Yeah, he was far more interested in making things, figuring things out, and playing around. Especially with creating games." Remembering his baton in hand with the conversion, "If he hadn't, I wouldn't have this." tapping it on his folded arm.

Then he asks in barely concealed excitement, "Which I kinda forgot with all this talk; could I possibly take a look at your lightcycle? I'm interested to see these upgrades you've made. You came in really fast. Even by lightcycle standards." then a thought comes to mind, "I could show you mine in return?"

"All right. I don't really mind." He holds the folded up lightcycle out towards Faux. "I've got the specifications backed up just in case, so you can't really break it. Not that I think you will." He hopes not, anyway.

"I'm more interested in making things as well, though my programs weren't games. They were tools to help people survive an invasion - at least, that's what my most recent project was. It's a bit complicated... I'm not sure if you'd know what 'demons' are or not..."

As he exchanges his own baton, Faux's code sinks just a small bit. Because another user doesn't believe he can keep a light cycle together. "I would never treat a user's property so carelessly." Can't break what he never planned to ride, he nervously chuckles off.

No run jump is necessary, especially when you know how to retract a light cycle from a baton proper, since he spent so much time fixing his. Naoya's white tinted light cycle collapses out in front of them, the same vehicle he saw pulling up. Now with a closer inspection, he can see it looks remarkably like a gen 5.

When he can feel the code under his hands, pinging off, telling him it's secrets, and he smiles. "Nice work. I can sense its not quite the same as one from my system, but its remarkably close though." Faux doesn't really care, its comforting just seeing a piece of his digital world here within a users world.

As he bends down to check some engine details, he hears Naoya talk about an invasion in his world. Demons... Ram used to say that from time to time. The word 'came with his compile', so he most likely never even knew what it was.

"Heard the term, demon, once or twice," he says as he looks up at Naoya, "No idea what it actually means. Something derogatory?" That's at least how Ram used it. Though Naoya makes it sound like it's actually a thing.

He closes his eyes for a moment, interfacing with the baton. He can feel the code run through his mind, and... Faux is right, it's very similar. He's a little intrigued by some of the differences, but he can examine those in detail later.

Naoya opens his eyes at the question and chuckles. "So you have legends about Users... well, Users have legends about things higher than themselves, too. Gods or monsters that normal people can't explain in the same way they can explain most things. They tend to have powers beyond what a normal person can do. And at least in my world, it's the belief in them that makes them manifest in their world - which is normally separate from the normal human world."

Seems that things always imitate each other, at least in Naoya's world. "Interesting." And it really is. But, it sounds like the users created their own gods... like they have programs in his own.

Some of his enthusiasm wanes with the perplexing details he's been given, "So if a user believes in something it becomes real?" is... that how they came to be?

And are all of these demons and monsters bad? It sounds like it. "What if you stopped believing in them?" he looks Naoya's way, "do they just go back to what they were before?" Would that be nothing?

"Not just one person - it has to be sustained belief over a long time. Which is much harder to stop, obviously. I imagine a demon would start to lose power if it stopped being believed in - I suspect that's how the old gods were overthrown and cast down."

Going back to nothing, though... "Belief and emotions are powerful things, however. I don't know if there's a way to kill off belief entirely. It's an interesting idea, but... well. Obviously hard to run experiments on, other than theoretically."

Old gods?! Faux's eyes widen in alarm. Naoya's world sounds stranger and stranger. So users there had more of them? They sound so powerful, being able to conceive and end something like that of their own choosing!

The lightcycles code under his fingers, though not entirely familiar, gives him a small comfort as he hears such unbelievable things.

"User's in your world sound very powerful," at least from his program perspective, incapable of creating anything of his own besides simple scripts, like his tank within the baton, "Though I also understand how hard belief can be to neutralize." Oh he knows a lot about that. He's seen it first hand in two separate systems.

Faux is a little unsettled by the talk, of experiments. However, he isn't ignorant to the idea. He does know some things. Experimental things. "My creator," yeah, the one he didn't want to talk about, "he did do, experiments of sorts. My system was also a testing grounds for his more," he gives it a thought, "scientific pursuits."

Perhaps his information could be of use to this user. For the most part, Naoya seems far more intelligent than even Flynn had been. So perhaps, he could divulge some information to the user. He wants to aid him if he can.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Fissures of Time: Start

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