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

"Yeah, time to be done." In complete agreement.

It's slightly embarrassing that they have been intimidated by such small creatures, but better safe than sorry. Plus, they have a job to do.

"Plan. I activate this thing, we bolt for the door."

It should theoretically start to reduce this distortion as they head out. He rights the last equalizer limb and it blinks in concert with the other two around the perimeter.

"Door? I'll just follow you, then!" Yota said, having no idea which direction to go, but ready to run the moment he sees Faux do.

The space is starting to fade out, the vastness shrinking back.

"Have you lost the entrance already?" Shaking his head. Seems users have inconstant spacial awareness. It's not like this place is that big. He snorts out a half chuckle, "This way!"

He turns and takes several hurried steps back where they came from, hopefully guiding Yota out, as the equalizers do their thing.

Some of the rabbits start to move around from the commotion, the larger original rabbit takes a few steps towards them but moves off. A couple others disperse ahead of him, their chaotic movements almost tripping him up towards the end, but he makes it out-

right back into the unrelenting heat.

"It's my first time, gimme a break!" Yota said indignantly, but he followed Faux as fast as he could, but he was never the fastest runner, and was overtaken by a rabbit, then another!

The refreshing breeze and wildflower-dotted fields of grass, the shepherd's song and the mountain, and the many camouflaged rabbits disappeared in an instant, replaced with barren earth and blood-red sky.

"... oh."

He missed the past already, keenly feeling why the land might want to cling to that memory, but—a little green followed them back to this time. Two of green rabbits followed them back!

He feels more than sees Yota exit out with him, but he can sure hear him.

The probe's direct telemetry feeds shows the time distortion shrinking away and blinking out from existence behind both of them, leaving only the equalizers left in place for them to pick up, their coordinates pinging off the headgear sub routines.

It also showed him that they had two stowaways.

He's already straight and turning around to spot the three forms nearby.

"Yeah, already know." He sighs.

Yota doesn't seem any worse for wear but the poor small rabbits beside him are looking rather stunned by the drastic change of locale. Under the harsh lighting, they aren't so menacing, if they ever were.

"This isn't a great place for these guys. Is it?" He scratches his chin, "I hadn't expected for us to have company." They didn't exactly get a manual for this, though he's certain those ministry users probably would have provided one if there was.

Yota blinked, then frowned. "I guess it is too hot for 'em, huh?"

He didn't really want to, but...

He gathered them up. "C'mere. It's hot..."

"Maybe we should carry 'em back?"

Two rabbits at once was difficult, though, so Yota looked very pointedly at Faux. "Y'mind giving me a hand?"

Edited 2022-01-19 21:24 (UTC)

Assessing the dilemma, Faux could just carry Yota and the two rabbits he's holding, given none of them are particularly large, back to the supply transport they left with some others. However going by Yota's previous comments, he's doubtful he'd want that.

"Sure, just let me-"

He bends down to grab one of the two stowaways. They look hotter than he does. Apparently the one he goes for isn't quite as done as they thought. Suddenly his rabbit struggles and makes a jump, and as Yota had professed before, the tiny rabbit gives a mean kick to his face with enough power to lurch him back and send stars in his eyes.

Now on the ground he gasps out to yota, "You were right... they do kick hard..."

Slightly horrified at such power from a small thing, he quickly recovers, assessing the damage from the little glitch. He touches a pixelated graze just on his cheek. It's not that bad, so he sets his eyes back on the fiend, only to find it hopping away.

It's defiance is short lived though as it pants under the heat. Taking the opportunity, he finally manages to grab it with both hands. It lashes out at him one last time with its tongue, and Faux finds it's not actually that threatening after all. "Are you quite done?"

Yota winced. “Yeah, speaking from experience…”

But something about Faux’s face was strange!

“Y…your face, why’d it do that?” Yota asked, surprised. “It just… was it because of the rabbit?”

Yota held his at arm’s length, as if it might make him glitch out too.

Oh, his cheek? It might be glistening in the light a bit. He forgets that users do something else when injured.

Given the reaction by Yota, he's not taking any chances with his own rabbit.

"It's fine," Oh how he hates that term, but its appropriate, "just clipped my render. Ya know, sharp claws and all." He gives a shrug, and the rabbit squirms just a bit.

His code stiffens as he comes to a realization.

"Come to think about it. I don't actually know how to repair myself if it were a real injury." Lets hope it doesn't come down to that before he finds a solution to his problem.

"What...? Repair—you ain't a human? You're something like... a machine?" Yota asked, finally becoming more aware that Faux might not be one.

"You should head back if you're something that fragile, shouldn't you?"

"I'm a program. I just live in a machine." Faux corrects, used to users now typically being clueless to his nature.

And fragile? He gives a smile. "We played gladiatorial death matches as casual sport. Believe me, I'm not fragile." Oh he would never participate. Not anymore if he could help it. But Yota doesn't know that. He leaves the smile open for interpretation. He starts to walk towards the transport with their supplies, rabbit in tow.

If they're on the subject of identities. "Well, what are you anyway? I assumed you were some sort of rabbit variant, since you look kinda like one, and you know about them."

"Casual... even though you could die?"
That's a wild-sounding bunch! Yota looked surprised.

At being mistaken for a rabbit, Yota's ears slick back against his head, like an angry cat. "A rabbit...?" he said in a low, angry voice, the tip of his tail flicking.
He turned, still holding his rabbit. "I'm a cat! We've got sharp teeth and long tails! Well, most of us have long tails anyway. Never those little cotton tails. Sharper claws, too!"

Yota bared his fangs just so Faux could see.

It's better to ignore the honestly completely understandable questioning of his peoples questionable actions. He's not a fan, but it makes a point. And it does get ignored completely when Yota gets riled up about being misidentified right after. His tail is doing a weird thing now.

Faux bends over to take a look into Yota's mouth, impressed. "Wow! Those are sharp."

But as for the unintentional insult, he shrugs. "Hey. I'm a program. I've only seen a few furry users, total." They all kinda look the same in his eyes. "I'll note all that down for the future though. Cat. Got it." It evens out, unintentionally misidentifying each other.

"Only non-user looking 'creatures' we have in my home are Bits, grid-bugs and worms. And Bits are just..." he pauses trying to describe them in simplified user terms, "floating shapes." He hopes that's right.

So, they're even now! Yes, Yota can live with that. His anger's quick and goes out as fast as it came, he can't hold onto the feeling for long, and he's back to being calm, tail swishing. Besides, having his fangs complimented also got him swelling with pride!

"Huh... that does sound really different," Yota said in response to Faux's explanation.

Bugs and worms? Kind of desolate-sounding, but Yota won't badmouth his home.

A program...

"A program... that word sounds kinda familiar. Can you go inside other machines?"

"Well, as I said, I lived in one." He continues walking towards the transport, "I've been to other system networks before, bank databases and other corporate spaces. Lots of security in those. Not as crazy as ENCOM though." He shrugs, not sure if it would count, "I used to live on a Floppy Disk?" He did try to tell Alice that, but she didn't understand.

As for now... "Now though? I don't actually know." Could he go into another machine? He's data, and though he was told he could never exist in the user world, somehow he is here.

This will definitely need more thought on. He knows a digitizing laser can transfer users to a system. The portal was transferring programs onto the last system he was trapped in. Perhaps that might work for him to get into another machine. Who knows, maybe Yota wouldn't mind a trip.

"Banks?" Yota's ears pricked at the word, as he considered how easy it would be to rob a bank with guarded information...!

"Dunnno ENCOM or floppy disks, but you can get a lot of exclusive information like that, huh?"

"Yeah, Banks. Financial_institutions." He's only vaguely aware of what they are in user terms, "My creator got me to do some bank statement editing couple times."

Having someone actually interested in this, he twists around to face Yota, "As an intrusion program, I could break my way through and get to the stored information. Had to be extra careful about security there though. Long arm'o'the law doesn't like ya picking through there systems."

His mood quickly dampens and he kicks a stone in passing, "Haven't done any of that for a looong time though."

He turns to Yota again, "What about you? What do cats do in your world?"

Edited 2022-01-24 02:37 (UTC)

“Wow… you seem so innocent, but you’re an expert, huh?” Yota said in amazement.
The mounting tension of being asked what he did back in his world, especially after Faux listing his own crimes, broke entirely.

“D’ya miss it?” he asked slyly, after the stone was kicked.

After a beat, Yota began, with more pride than necessary: “Cats do just about anything! We make good actors, singers, businessmen… but the ol’ straight an’ narrow never gave this cat’s family a decent life, so we’ve done our fair share of robberies too! ‘Scept we do it the old-fashioned way, with guns and threats. Kidnapping for ransom, fraud, impersonating clergy, impersonating… a lot of people, actually—you name it, we’ve done it! Probably…”

As if to punish him, the rabbit gave Yota an extra hard kick in the gut, knocking the wind out of him. “Oof…!”

"Well, yeah. I do miss being an intrusion program. Always have. Going into other systems, seeing other programs... stealing data." He smiles, as he reminisces with a wistful look, "It's a part of me." And it's true. It always has been.

And a frown follows after Yota describes some of the criminal activities he's been involved with. Kidnapping? Ransom?

A curt smile appears across his face, "Really? That's a fairly decent amount of skills involved there." Though Faux confesses not understanding a few of them, he acknowledges that Yota is a genuine crook with a lot of determination. Going by Yota's performance thus far, he wonders on his overall success rate. The kick by the rabbit seems to reinforce his thoughts on the subject. Still, he's not that bad, and Faux's been paired up with far worse...

"I don't do any of that." Not anymore... A hardened look escapes him for just a moment, before returning to a smile, "I'm a principled illegal program."

Was he being judged? Oh, well, Yota didn't mind, he already was used to being seen as scum.

(Honestly, his doubling over at a rabbit's kick was a pretty good indication of his success rate! Well-caught, Faux.)

After a moment of rubbing his belly and restraining the rabbit more, Yota watched Faux's expression change.

"... more power to ya, then. It ain't a nice life, I'll give you that. I'm a bad man, but I got principles, too."

He continues to smile, "Ok, I'll bite. What makes ya tick. I'm curious to hear more bout your principles," he rights his hold on his rabbit, he draws it a little closer now that its stopped struggling, "What you won't do."

The transport with the grumpy creature comes into view.

At that, Yota looked surprised, like he hadn't actually intended for Faux to ask, then shook his head, smirking.
"No can do—I gave you enough of a hint already! I gotta keep my reputation or folks'll think I'm soft and won't take my threats seriously. It's better that folks overestimate how far I'm willing to go, right?"

After a beat, "This one ain't secret, though, so it's safe to say—family comes first. Won't sell out my brother for a million. Not even two."

Any higher and well... nah, he'd still pick Guta.

Faux thinks Yota's idea of going soft is slightly amusing given he's covered in plush fur. But he gets the idea. An image of weakness is something hard to shake once shown. And overestimation, brilliant.

He's on the verge of of an amused smile when a most dangerous subject hits him.

Brother.

Circuits flaring at the word, his rabbit burrows into his arms, as if feeling the same elicited reaction drawn from them. Though Faux has no idea how a million calculates into the equation; little lone two, an instance where a family could turn out for the best, even by Yota standards, further draws out a hardened frown turning deadly.

And all that goes away in an instant, covered by a smile that might not reach his eyes. "Family comes first." Because he likes that somewhere that's how it works, that's how it turns out.

That's..." it's so so very- "that's nice." He gives a nod, because it's true.

He looks at the poor rabbit in his arms, now taken from it's family and he knows he has to take care of it somehow. He might not be it's family, but he knows he has to do it right. By the time he's recovered some of his composure, they are at the transport.

What a frightening expression. It makes Yota’s fur bristle, but he hangs his head ears and tail following suit.

“Sorry…”

Did his words bring up some bad memories?

“Let’s get these rabbits to where it’s cooler, alright?” Yota said, opting to change the topic. He isn’t the smartest, true, but he understood people at least a little.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Fissures of Time: Start

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[let's keep two! ^^]

Re: [One each?]

[sure!]

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Oops! screwed up the bold on my last reply .__. It was only supossed to be Cat...

it's okay! ^^

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[oh, dear.]

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