Your head feels heavy, your memories foggy, and as you struggle to recall where you are and what you were doing, you hear the sound of something large and heavy moving behind you. Whatever it is - machinery of some sort, you can tell that much right away - it doesn’t seem hostile; merely a massive machine going about doing something down far, far below you. You can see it - through the cracks of the floor you're standing on, and the steep drop off the side. At least there’s a railing on this path to keep you from falling down there?
No matter which way you look - up, down, or out straight ahead of you - there’s endless paths and structures, as though you’re standing in some sort of massive building. You look to your left and there’s a broken section of wall revealing open space - strange, since you aren’t wearing anything different, yet you’re still breathing just fine.
A loud ping! catches your attention, followed by a few more. As you turn around to find the source of the noise, you’re led to a rundown computer terminal. It looks ancient, untouched, and dusty, and yet there’s a message in bright green standing against the stark black contrast of the monitor.
/// L O A D I N G . . .
Oh good, you’re awake.
Hi, I don’t have much time, so please pay close attention.
You’re the only ones who can save this world - all worlds, maybe.
Thank you for agreeing to help.
For now, please practice your new abilities and try to work together.
I’ll be in contact with you as soon as possible.
It feels familiar, like maybe you've experienced something similar before, despite the fact that none of you recognize this place. What's going on here? What have you gotten yourself into?
AWAKENING
Your memories leading up to your sudden arrival in this place may be foggy. Even if they aren't, you certainly don't remember how you got here of all places. And where exactly is here? Well, inside of some sort of massive structure that expands outwards, backwards, downwards, and upwards. Every direction you look, there's plenty of building to be seen, whether it's walkways over the abyss (but thankfully with mostly sturdy guard rails) or stairs and ramps leading up and down to new floors, or even rooms that don't seem to hold much of interest. All of it is rundown, worn and in desperate need of some dusting.
Before you sits the terminal, a sturdy computer set into a pillar with an old-fashioned and dusty keyboard. The green text remains bright against the black background, with a cursor indicating that you can input text, if you'd like. You may try to communicate with whoever's on the other end at any point in time during the week, though you may not receive the answers you're hoping for.
Not too far away is a carefully-arranged group of supplies. You'll find plenty of non-perishable food, blankets and bedrolls, clothes in your sizes that are plain but acceptable, and some basic supplies - things like rope and matches and flashlights, but no weapons or anything you could use to defend yourselves. You'll also find a large room nearby that happens to have several bathrooms and a fairly large communal shower. Despite being rather old and dusty, they do work... though the water never gets above "not freezing". Sorry about that.
Looks like you'll have to settle in, as there doesn't seem to be any way out of this strange structure.
EXPLORATION
It's likely that your first thought will be to explore. Why not? After all, there must be a way back home, or at least a way out of wherever this is. Traversing the structure is fairly easy, as even if a path is blocked by rubble, you'll find another one going in a similar direction somewhere nearby. In fact, the entire place seems to be rather pointlessly constructed - hallways that lead to dead ends, paths that loop in circles for no reason, and far, far too many stairs.
If you're lucky, you'll stumble across rooms with some basic supplies. They won't have any food or weapons, but you'll find some dusty fabrics and blankets, or small caches of tools. If you're unlucky, you'll be lost in this structure for far too long, wandering off the beaten path and possibly losing track of where you are and how to get back to the base... you might want to travel with a buddy, just to be safe. Or hope that someone stumbles across you and can guide you back, your pick.
Holes in the structure open out into what looks like... well, outer space. An endless sea of stars amidst a black sky that never changes, making it hard to tell how much time has passed. Despite this, you can breathe easily, just as you would back home.
MACHINES
It won't take you long to notice that you aren't truly alone. After all, how could you be, when massive machines seem to be hard at work on constructing even more of this place? The large ones - the builders - do just that, building more pathways and rooms and walkways, endlessly working and never stopping. They don't take notice of you; they won't respond to anything you say, and even attempting to poke and prod them won't get a reaction. Even if you get particularly daring and try to take one apart, you'll find that it's nearly impossible; these machines are massive. Finding a panel to get into to get at their wiring is strangely impossible. They seem to be completely seamless, with nothing you can really do to investigate them further.
But they aren't the only machines present. Though you likely won't see them immediately, you will hear them; a skittering, metal-on-metal clicking sound that alerts you to a presence, but fades before you can even detect which direction it was coming from. Whatever it is, it seems to be watching you.
And if you're ever alone... well, then they'll show themselves. Around three feet tall and made of metal with long, spindly legs that look like they shouldn't support their thicker cores, these spider-like robots aren't particularly strong on their own, but they never attack on their own, only in groups of three or more. If you're especially unlucky, you can find upwards of ten of them at a time. They have two claw-like "hands" that can shoot a jolt of electricity or scratch at you - and be careful, because they hurt! That jolt of electricity can even leave a burn if you're unlucky.
But surely if you stick together you won't have to fight them... right?
SHARDS
The strange gemstone imbedded in the back of your dominant hand almost hums when you're in danger. It fills you with confidence, with the knowledge that you can do something - though what exactly that something is varies from person to person. You might be lucky enough that you innately recognize your power and know how to use it. You might not be that lucky and you might have to manifest it in combat to defend yourself. Regardless, it will manifest - and you now have access to a power all your own.
It's not going to be easy to control it. This power is new to you, and you'll need to practice to have a hope of utilizing it in full. But right now, you have the means to defend yourself, and if those spider robots get particularly bold, you can stop them. After all, what better way to put your power to use than by testing it on fairly weak robots?
Let's hope that you can aim your power well enough, however. While the builders may not care about you at any point in time, if an attack goes wide and hits them or they're otherwise in the path of an ability, they will turn their full attention on you. You really don't want that. Builders are relentless in their pursuit of you - and they have massive steel beams they will swing at you, or they'll try to crush you with their giant hands and fists. There are only two ways to stop a builder: the first is to run far, far away. They cannot chase you, as they are connected to the building itself, after all. The other way is to destroy the joints of the arms or wrists, rendering the builder incapable of doing anything. Better hope you don't anger any of the ones near your base!
DOWNTIME
Aside from exploring, mastering the power of your shard, and getting to know one another... there really isn't much to do here. So how are you going to spend the time? After all, it's just you, your fellow shardbearers, and some robots that probably aren't sentient. Settle in, it looks like you've got a long week ahead of you.
ENEMIES
This week's enemies are described above: spider robots and builders. If you have an enemy idea you'd like to have your character encounter, let me know and we can discuss it!
Spider robots are three feet tall, silver metal spider-like robots that look vaguely like this. They have a core in the center of their body that can be taken, but it isn't particularly useful outside of being cool to look at. Even you tech nerds won't be able to get much out of it, as it seems impossible to find a way to dismantle it further. Spider robots come with two "hands" that have sharp claws on them; they're capable of creating electric zaps with these hands, which really hurt if they connect! Spider robots are very fast and will skitter away the moment there's danger... unless there's three or more of them, then they get bold. They will attack anyone sleeping, especially if they're alone. They're fairly weak enemies, and can be fended off even if you don't have a great grasp on your powers just yet.
The builders are a different story. Massive, structure-spanning robots that are nearly impossible to tell apart from the building itself, the only real part of them that you can identify are their dark metal arms. They are likewise massive, with one hand being large and strong enough to flatten five of you if you aren't careful. Though the builders are non-hostile and will go about their business of building this never-ending structure, they will turn their attention on you if you hit them with any sort of ability... even if that ability isn't an attack. They can swing giant metal beams or just go for the option of trying to crush you with their hands. They're slow-moving, but very powerful; though they can't pursue you so at least there's that. If you anger one near the base, watch out - as you will have to defeat it.
[Dorothy looks at Michael for a moment, pensive at the way he looks at her. It's...strange, really, and she doesn't quite bristle at it but she elects to move on from it. He doesn't need to know her complicated feelings on his kind.
But when Michael brings up the gem on the back of his hand, Dorothy pauses a bit at it. It's different than hers, but...
She raises her own hand--her left, with an amethyst in a tear drop shape on the back of it.]
So you have one as well...all be told, I've tried to pry it off, but to no avail. I'm not entirely certain how we're to go about testing such powers, but...
[It's strange. He mentioned powers of his own, but...Dorothy has to ask...]
...I do hope this is not a rude question, but I only ask for clarity--are you a human?
[Michael narrows his eyes a little, tilting his head at her, and suddenly he doesn't look very human at all.]
...no. [He sounds thoughtful, and pauses for a moment before commenting:] I'm not used to just telling people that, yet. It sort of felt like something would happen.
[And all of a sudden, so much more makes sense, and something in Dorothy's expression eases just a touch.]
You mentioned powers, and you don't seem to be one of those Heretics I keep hearing about...but I understand where you're coming from. Such a thing would likely cause a stir, and we do not need that with so much uncertain right now.
Allow me to swear that I won't be sharing such a thing with anyone else...because I'm not exactly human either. You're in good company, if little else.
[This is certainly interesting. Michael's not on good terms with the majority of other non-humans he knows - it's too late, at this point, he's in too deep with humanity themselves. But it still isn't enough to make him outright wary. He's maybe just slightly cautious.]
I haven't exactly decided what to do there yet, but we can just keep all of this to ourselves for now. [...] What are you, then?
[...Perhaps she spoke too soon. Something in Dorothy's expression tightens a bit as she considers what angle to approach this from--it's not like anyone would believe either of them at the moment if one were to reveal the others secrets, but perhaps she can offer some ammo in exchange for some against him. Keep them on an even playing field.
But it eases after a moment when Dorothy makes her decision.]
I am what is called a Nikke in my world; specialized weapons made by humanity to combat the Raptures that plague our world to the point that people cannot live on the surface. Not very easily, at least. We were created as a means of fighting against them once it became clear that human weaponry was not enough to take these creatures on, given how adaptable they are. We were made to be durable enough to take whatever the Raptures could dish out, as well as strong enough to wield the powerful weaponry created specifically for eradicating them.
[Dorothy considers for a moment. What was a term those strange...novels used sometimes--]
...I believe the closest equivalent of something more general would be an 'android'? Or at the very least, something similar to that, if we're going by terms humanity used in those strange novels they sometimes wrote. Most humans don't see us as anything but weapons, however.
But if you'll permit me some curiosity in kind...what exactly are you, sir?
[He better not weasel out. She doesn't think he will, but she watches him carefully and warily.]
[Michael listens intently, brightening up about halfway through the explanation. She's like a Janet! Except, you know, entirely different - but socially speaking, it seems like she and hers are basically treated the way Janets are. That's...not great, but maybe they don't need to get into that right this second.]
Ah! Yeah, sure, that's fair. I'm what humans would usually call a demon. A lot of what they actually believe about us is wrong, but we're immortal beings from the dawn of time who are...involved, to various degrees, in the human afterlife process. I'm able to look like one of them with an artificial suit.
[Tapping his own chest idly. He does not appear to be referring to his actual clothing.]
[we can save that for another thread :kyuuchan_nod:
but god dorothy being essentially a violence janet is giving me life]
A demon? Goodness. Rapunzel certainly had the wrong idea about you all, if you're one of their standard.
[Still, Dorothy's expression loses some measure of sharpness. Fascinating. Ammo to use against him later, potentially, should he make any sort of issue and should these foolish humans be susceptible to fear like that, but for now at least. Dorothy is actually surprisingly interested in this line of topic and her expression evens to something more pleasant. Michael at least seems alright by her.]
Rapunzel never usually brought them up, but she did hold a fear of them. Believing such things to lead others into temptation and committing vile, violent acts against one another merely for fun. I take it there's no merit in such accusations, with you lot being busy with those afterlife processes?
Oh, the second one, sure. Office parties used to get crazy!
[He laughs.]
But nah, nah. There's no reason for any of that. Anyway, most demons never get to go to Earth in the first place - I was the first one to get clearance since the afterlife system was originally set up, and I don't think they're about to do that again.
[Dorothy manages to chuckle at that, a little startled at herself for a moment while she listens to him.]
Oh, my. Did something end up happening? Or did they simply decide to move such things to a different system? It sounds like there must be quite the story there.
I would have never expected demons to be so...bureaucratic, I believe may be the correct term.
Goodness. It sounds quite like the afterlife was in need of some reform, if you decided to act in such a manner. I respect it, sir; one doesn't simply defy the order without good reason, after all, and I cannot imagine it was easy for you to accomplish.
[Honestly, Dorothy's more amused than anything by this. The idea that even the heavens above and hells below, that there are those who would rebel for the sake of others. How...strangely charming.
Though Dorothy tilts her head at the word 'accountants', not quite recognizing it, she sort of gets it she thinks.]
Interesting, nonetheless. It seems that the more realms change, the more they stay the same. [Maybe if she talks to Rapunzel again...] Thank you for allowing me to indulge my curiosity; my knowledge of such things is only limited to what religion has taught us, and you've proven that it's quite woefully insufficient.
Do you have a name I can refer to you by, sir? You're quite good company.
[He leans forward slightly as he offers her a handshake, not really a bow but certainly extra polite. She seems fun! Much easier-going about that sort of thing than most humans he meets, too, though of course maybe that isn't fair. They aren't meeting because she just died or anything.]
[Perhaps surprisingly, Dorothy will take it--no need to be impolite, after all. Michael can likely feel that her skin feels almost like a normal human's, but there's clearly wiring and metalwork underneath--even something that's a facsimile of muscle.]
It's a pleasure, Michael. You may call me Dorothy--I look forward to speaking with you in the future.
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no subject
But when Michael brings up the gem on the back of his hand, Dorothy pauses a bit at it. It's different than hers, but...
She raises her own hand--her left, with an amethyst in a tear drop shape on the back of it.]
So you have one as well...all be told, I've tried to pry it off, but to no avail. I'm not entirely certain how we're to go about testing such powers, but...
[It's strange. He mentioned powers of his own, but...Dorothy has to ask...]
...I do hope this is not a rude question, but I only ask for clarity--are you a human?
no subject
...no. [He sounds thoughtful, and pauses for a moment before commenting:] I'm not used to just telling people that, yet. It sort of felt like something would happen.
[Nothing does seem to be happening, though!]
no subject
You mentioned powers, and you don't seem to be one of those Heretics I keep hearing about...but I understand where you're coming from. Such a thing would likely cause a stir, and we do not need that with so much uncertain right now.
Allow me to swear that I won't be sharing such a thing with anyone else...because I'm not exactly human either. You're in good company, if little else.
no subject
[This is certainly interesting. Michael's not on good terms with the majority of other non-humans he knows - it's too late, at this point, he's in too deep with humanity themselves. But it still isn't enough to make him outright wary. He's maybe just slightly cautious.]
I haven't exactly decided what to do there yet, but we can just keep all of this to ourselves for now. [...] What are you, then?
no subject
But it eases after a moment when Dorothy makes her decision.]
I am what is called a Nikke in my world; specialized weapons made by humanity to combat the Raptures that plague our world to the point that people cannot live on the surface. Not very easily, at least. We were created as a means of fighting against them once it became clear that human weaponry was not enough to take these creatures on, given how adaptable they are. We were made to be durable enough to take whatever the Raptures could dish out, as well as strong enough to wield the powerful weaponry created specifically for eradicating them.
[Dorothy considers for a moment. What was a term those strange...novels used sometimes--]
...I believe the closest equivalent of something more general would be an 'android'? Or at the very least, something similar to that, if we're going by terms humanity used in those strange novels they sometimes wrote. Most humans don't see us as anything but weapons, however.
But if you'll permit me some curiosity in kind...what exactly are you, sir?
[He better not weasel out. She doesn't think he will, but she watches him carefully and warily.]
no subject
Ah! Yeah, sure, that's fair. I'm what humans would usually call a demon. A lot of what they actually believe about us is wrong, but we're immortal beings from the dawn of time who are...involved, to various degrees, in the human afterlife process. I'm able to look like one of them with an artificial suit.
[Tapping his own chest idly. He does not appear to be referring to his actual clothing.]
no subject
but god dorothy being essentially a violence janet is giving me life]
A demon? Goodness. Rapunzel certainly had the wrong idea about you all, if you're one of their standard.
[Still, Dorothy's expression loses some measure of sharpness. Fascinating. Ammo to use against him later, potentially, should he make any sort of issue and should these foolish humans be susceptible to fear like that, but for now at least. Dorothy is actually surprisingly interested in this line of topic and her expression evens to something more pleasant. Michael at least seems alright by her.]
Rapunzel never usually brought them up, but she did hold a fear of them. Believing such things to lead others into temptation and committing vile, violent acts against one another merely for fun. I take it there's no merit in such accusations, with you lot being busy with those afterlife processes?
no subject
[He laughs.]
But nah, nah. There's no reason for any of that. Anyway, most demons never get to go to Earth in the first place - I was the first one to get clearance since the afterlife system was originally set up, and I don't think they're about to do that again.
no subject
Oh, my. Did something end up happening? Or did they simply decide to move such things to a different system? It sounds like there must be quite the story there.
I would have never expected demons to be so...bureaucratic, I believe may be the correct term.
no subject
[You get it!]
Anyway, the Judge oversees all that. She's a neutral entity, not angel or demon. Like accountants.
no subject
You know what. Go off king, it sounds like--]
Goodness. It sounds quite like the afterlife was in need of some reform, if you decided to act in such a manner. I respect it, sir; one doesn't simply defy the order without good reason, after all, and I cannot imagine it was easy for you to accomplish.
[Honestly, Dorothy's more amused than anything by this. The idea that even the heavens above and hells below, that there are those who would rebel for the sake of others. How...strangely charming.
Though Dorothy tilts her head at the word 'accountants', not quite recognizing it, she sort of gets it she thinks.]
Interesting, nonetheless. It seems that the more realms change, the more they stay the same. [Maybe if she talks to Rapunzel again...] Thank you for allowing me to indulge my curiosity; my knowledge of such things is only limited to what religion has taught us, and you've proven that it's quite woefully insufficient.
Do you have a name I can refer to you by, sir? You're quite good company.
no subject
[He leans forward slightly as he offers her a handshake, not really a bow but certainly extra polite. She seems fun! Much easier-going about that sort of thing than most humans he meets, too, though of course maybe that isn't fair. They aren't meeting because she just died or anything.]
no subject
It's a pleasure, Michael. You may call me Dorothy--I look forward to speaking with you in the future.
no subject
You too, Dorothy.