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.
Just Wolfwood is fine; Father Wolfwood has always felt a bit stuffy to me.
[ he'll take that hand back once they're done shaking. ]
And alright. [ he doesn't want to drop it but wolfwood also knows its best to not push people to talk if he hopes to get anything accomplished. ] Then allow me to give ya a word of advice—be careful where you pop-up with that fancy trick of your's. Not everyone is gonna be as gracious being caught off guard.
Well I don't know how thick any of these walls are so it's hard to say. So far I haven't had any problems, though.
Oh, I can also make the holes in the floor, and in those little spider robots! I think anything inanimate, though it's not like I've... Tried making them in anything animate. [Not with this power anyway.]
[ wolfwood nods slightly. these holes are getting progressively more useful. ...though he really did have to bring up the animate thing, didn't he? not that it doesn't make sense but— ]
Let's not try anythin' livin' just yet. [ OR MAYBE EVER? ] I'm fairly certain fixin' holes in people isn't somethin' I can do.
[ hmm. ]
In fact, I get the feelin' that anythin' broken or really bad is beyond me.
Well yeah, you'll have to level up before you can do more advanced healing magic I assume.
[Fukuda.]
And yeah, I wasn't planning on it, though I suppose if I could, it could have an offensive use if we ever fight non-robots? But it'd probably get messy.
but thank you for this bit of confidence that he won't have to worry about fixing holes in people in the future. probably. ]
I'd think callin' it "messy" would be puttin' things lightly. Between the two of us, let's hope that ya don't have to go about punchin' holes into non-robotic things.
Well, I haven't taken communion or been baptized or anything, so I don't think you can lift anything off my shoulders? Unless my understanding of Christianity is wrong.
[Besides he's already got blood on his hands so what's a little more??]
[ (naru voice) shakes in heathen. ...wolfwood's relationship with religion being fucking complicated does not help me even in the slightest but here i go. ]
The way I see it, it's about the spirit. Yer soul.
[ despite wolfwood keeping an overall casual tone to what he says, there's a hint of earnestness to his words. ]
God doesn't care about that stuff—people do. As long as ya put yer heart into your prayers or feelings then that's all that matters. If ya wish to be forgiven for yer actions then all ya have to do is ask.
[Fukuda can tell and like... Of course. His gap moe. It logically follows. So he's careful with his words here.]
That sounds like a nice way to look at it. I think more people should think the way you do, Mr. Wolfwood. But... What if I can't bring myself to believe in any sort of god?
[ is really what he's saying a good thing? or maybe he's just saying what he wants to hear.... either way, wolfwood wishes he had a smoke right about now. ]
Nah; bad things happen because there are bad people. There ain't enough prayers in the world to prevent bad things from happenin'.
[ casually, almost flippant. ]
The point of askin' for forgiveness isn't to prevent bad things from happenin' but to acknowledge that ya did somethin' you shouldn't have. From there they gotta put in the work to make sure they've earned that forgiveness.
If ya keep askin' for forgiveness for the same things, are ya really sorry for what happened?
What about bad things that weren't caused by anyone else? Why would God make people be born in a way that they can't live a normal life? What are they being punished for?
[He pauses.]
I don't think there was any amount of praying I could have done to solve that problem. That's why it's hard for me to believe in such a thing.
Yer askin' me the same questions that many people ask God when they've been dealt an awful hand.
[ frankly, they're questions that wolfwood has asked many times himself about the things he has seen. his tone remains casual as he offers the best he's got. ]
Truthfully, I don't have a good answer for that. They say that God's strongest soldiers are given the hardest battles, but that doesn't give much comfort if ya ask me. God shouldn't look away from people's sufferin' even if there are people who aren't exactly deservin'...
[ and to prevent wolfwood from approaching a soapbox— ]
Look, I'm not here to force ya into believin' in anythin' that can't speak to ya. I'm just a humble man of the cloth who will listen to yer worries when ya wanna share them.
[Fukuda smiles sort of haplessly. It is what it is.]
Well I appreciate your honesty, Mr Wolfwood. I can believe you're sincere in your belief because you admit you don't have all the answers.
[He pauses, before;]
So I'll answer your question. I drilled the hole in my head because the alternative of continuing to live with the brain I was born with didn't feel like something I could do.
[ ......huh. well. hooray?? wolfwood has lore?? unsure how easy it'll be to get this lore given the kind of person fukuda is but it's lore nevertheless and wolfwood is just going to take that in strides.
somehow.
bitch where is he supposed to go with this!? it'd be a lie to say that he didn't have any idea that fukuda's questions were clearly about himself but christ. why is wolfwood without smokes to help him deal with this?? whatever, he's going to use his best poker face to refrain from saying anything inappropriate. ]
Talk about takin' things into yer own hands.
[ god does he want to ask more questions but wolfwood isn't sure if he's quite ready for more. ]
I'm assumin' that the hole ended up doin' ya a lot of good then. Helped with yer brain problems.
cw: suicidal ideation (probably should have gone on the last tag mb)
LISTEN??? who knew wolfwood would have gotten lore after talking about religion?? though i guess jokes on me (him). what other outcome could there have been for him... a priest offering their ear. smh.
still, as weird as it is, wolfwood isn't treating fukuda's words lightly. ]
Must have been some hell of a demon livin' up in there.
[ hmmm. ]
Guess the next thing ya should work on is makin' sure that yer thoughts are a little easier to follow for us folk who are holeless.
[A demon... Sounds way more daunting that then truth, and Fukuda feels a minute twinge of shame for how mundane the problem sounds in comparison. But he lived it. He knows how something as mundane as numbers can ruin your life.]
Mm. I don't know, people had a hard time understanding me even before my hole. I'm used to it. As long as everyone else can tolerate me that's fine.
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[ he'll take that hand back once they're done shaking. ]
And alright. [ he doesn't want to drop it but wolfwood also knows its best to not push people to talk if he hopes to get anything accomplished. ] Then allow me to give ya a word of advice—be careful where you pop-up with that fancy trick of your's. Not everyone is gonna be as gracious being caught off guard.
[ says the man who decked him in the face..... ]
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To be honest, Mr. Wolfwood, I can't imagine a worse reaction than punching me in the face.
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They could have a weapon on them.
[ more importantly: ]
Do ya control exactly where ya end up appearin' and disappearin' to?
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Oh sure, it's not like a portal or anything, it's just a hole in the wall, I came from the next corridor over.
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i see that we're just never going to forget about wolfwood punching fukuda being how they met then. ]
Huh. Guess that's still pretty useful. Do ya know if thickness matters yet?
[ admittedly testing those limits might lead them into big trouble if you think about it. imagine creating a hole that just leads into space. ]
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Oh, I can also make the holes in the floor, and in those little spider robots! I think anything inanimate, though it's not like I've... Tried making them in anything animate.
[Not with this power anyway.]
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Let's not try anythin' livin' just yet. [ OR MAYBE EVER? ] I'm fairly certain fixin' holes in people isn't somethin' I can do.
[ hmm. ]
In fact, I get the feelin' that anythin' broken or really bad is beyond me.
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[Fukuda.]
And yeah, I wasn't planning on it, though I suppose if I could, it could have an offensive use if we ever fight non-robots? But it'd probably get messy.
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[ ??? ???? sure???
but thank you for this bit of confidence that he won't have to worry about fixing holes in people in the future. probably. ]
I'd think callin' it "messy" would be puttin' things lightly. Between the two of us, let's hope that ya don't have to go about punchin' holes into non-robotic things.
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If it's to help protect our group and save the world, I'll make holes in anything that stands in our way.
2/2
But I definitely won't make extra work for you, Mr. Wolfwood!!
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now isn't that a sentiment that he's all too familiar with? change up the wording a bit and it could be something straight from his mouth. ]
I'd 'ppreciate it if ya didn't. Wouldn't want ya to have any additional burdens that might need lifted from yer shoulders.
[ or pardoned? something like that. ]
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[Besides he's already got blood on his hands so what's a little more??]
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The way I see it, it's about the spirit. Yer soul.
[ despite wolfwood keeping an overall casual tone to what he says, there's a hint of earnestness to his words. ]
God doesn't care about that stuff—people do. As long as ya put yer heart into your prayers or feelings then that's all that matters. If ya wish to be forgiven for yer actions then all ya have to do is ask.
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That sounds like a nice way to look at it. I think more people should think the way you do, Mr. Wolfwood. But... What if I can't bring myself to believe in any sort of god?
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but as it goes, wolfwood just shrugs. ]
God's there for ya even if ya believe in them or not. Convenient ain't it?
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So then, if bad things happened to someone, it's because they didn't pray enough?
[It's not accusatory, he's asking genuinely if that's the belief here.]
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Nah; bad things happen because there are bad people. There ain't enough prayers in the world to prevent bad things from happenin'.
[ casually, almost flippant. ]
The point of askin' for forgiveness isn't to prevent bad things from happenin' but to acknowledge that ya did somethin' you shouldn't have. From there they gotta put in the work to make sure they've earned that forgiveness.
If ya keep askin' for forgiveness for the same things, are ya really sorry for what happened?
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[He pauses.]
I don't think there was any amount of praying I could have done to solve that problem. That's why it's hard for me to believe in such a thing.
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[ frankly, they're questions that wolfwood has asked many times himself about the things he has seen. his tone remains casual as he offers the best he's got. ]
Truthfully, I don't have a good answer for that. They say that God's strongest soldiers are given the hardest battles, but that doesn't give much comfort if ya ask me. God shouldn't look away from people's sufferin' even if there are people who aren't exactly deservin'...
[ and to prevent wolfwood from approaching a soapbox— ]
Look, I'm not here to force ya into believin' in anythin' that can't speak to ya. I'm just a humble man of the cloth who will listen to yer worries when ya wanna share them.
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Well I appreciate your honesty, Mr Wolfwood. I can believe you're sincere in your belief because you admit you don't have all the answers.
[He pauses, before;]
So I'll answer your question. I drilled the hole in my head because the alternative of continuing to live with the brain I was born with didn't feel like something I could do.
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somehow.
bitch where is he supposed to go with this!? it'd be a lie to say that he didn't have any idea that fukuda's questions were clearly about himself but christ. why is wolfwood without smokes to help him deal with this?? whatever, he's going to use his best poker face to refrain from saying anything inappropriate. ]
Talk about takin' things into yer own hands.
[ god does he want to ask more questions but wolfwood isn't sure if he's quite ready for more. ]
I'm assumin' that the hole ended up doin' ya a lot of good then. Helped with yer brain problems.
cw: suicidal ideation (probably should have gone on the last tag mb)
Aah, I hadn't expected it at all, but I'm really glad for it. I can think clearly now because of my hole.
[In case it was unclear that he hadn't planned on this outcome. He hadn't expected to survive.]
cw: suicidal ideation - it's here now, at least.
LISTEN??? who knew wolfwood would have gotten lore after talking about religion?? though i guess jokes on me (him). what other outcome could there have been for him... a priest offering their ear. smh.
still, as weird as it is, wolfwood isn't treating fukuda's words lightly. ]
Must have been some hell of a demon livin' up in there.
[ hmmm. ]
Guess the next thing ya should work on is makin' sure that yer thoughts are a little easier to follow for us folk who are holeless.
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Mm. I don't know, people had a hard time understanding me even before my hole. I'm used to it. As long as everyone else can tolerate me that's fine.
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DON'T USE THIS ICON ON ME AND ASK WW THIS!?! (not a real comment but i'm leaving it)
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