TDM 006

[etrayamods]

⏵ arrival ⏴ Arrival is absolutely not normal this month. Instead of a hospital bed, you wake in a tunnel with a large group of other people. These are the residents. A woman’s voice in an earpiece hurriedly clues you in with an apology. I apologize; I had not planned to introduce you this way, but we are low on time. Please proceed down the hallway. An image of a shattered pearl pops up on your personal HUD and rotates. I am Aurora. You are joining many others on Etraya in order to save your world from destruction by completing missions. Your current mission is to find the pieces of this object that have become scattered in the library ahead of you. For everyone else, coming in is much the same. The instruction goes out to head to designated areas immediately, where companion bots will escort the residents of Etraya down into the depths, the area beneath where much the same is explained. ⏵ disrobing ⏴ The tunnel eventually opens directly into the foreroom of an expansive library, painted in marvelous hues and patterns with skylights far above. There are wizards milling about, bearded and holding tomes, quietly chatting amongst themselves. The reception area of the library has tall ceilings with equally tall doors Before you get too caught up in the scenery, a voice directs you forward. A gentleman, hunched and bespeckled craws out. "Make a line! Make a line, everyone! You cannot enter the library dressed as you are... Come forward and give me your name." The receptionist asks your given name and then hands over a box from underneath his counter. You can give him any name you want, he doesn’t seem to mind. It is tied with a tagged ribbon- labeling it accordingly. “The _____ robe of _______.” (First Letter of Given Name) (Last Letter of Given Name) A Controlling N Helpful A Melodies N Light B Glimmering O Floating B Discretion O Mind-Reading C Wet P Handsome C Growth P Climbing D Gruesome Q Gullible D Grasping Q Jumping E Observant R Ratty E Flying R Hurting F Powerful S Adhesive F Reading S Guiding G Psychedelic T Sweltering G Dancing T Bug-Speaking H Swift U Cheerful H Shouting U Exploding I Voracious V Anxious I Extracting V Complaining J Soft W Likeable J Punishing W Dividing K Keen X Ruthless K Creeping X Slapping L Fabulous Y Dramatic L Walking Y Charming M Fair Z Demonic M Listening Z Combustion As you read what the contents of the box may be, they form inside- Looking and behaving as your character expects them to. After all, magic is all in the wielder’s mind. Don your robes and enter the library. ⏵ unfamiliar familiars ⏴ For those without a familiar (like one hatched from an egg not too long ago) you may borrow one from the library counter. They all have strengths and weaknesses, but they will all assist in the very important mission. As you roam the library, they will make little indications that you are closer or further from finding a piece of the pearl. Pro • Hardworking • Gives correct directions 75% of time • Won’t run away from you • Very affectionate • Gives correct directions only when paired with another rat, toad, or personal pet. • Gives correct directions 90% of the time Con • Must feed bookworms • Will run away if too close to a cat • Does not care for you • Sleepy • Will run ahead • Gets distracted by rats ⏵ the task at hand ⏴ With robes donned and creature in hand, you must now complete your mission. Find the pieces of the shattered pearl. As you enter the library, you may notice that it’s all very dim. There’s oil lamps around the place that may be moved with you to assist in your journey if your robes do not already emit light. Break off and search the library. There is a directory at the front to point guests to all the different sections. Wings of the Library A General Works B Music C Philosophy, Religion D Fine Arts E History, Auxiliary Sciences F Language and Literature G Magic, General H Science J Geography, Anthopology K Medicine M Agriculture N Hobbies, Recreation P Social Science Q Military R Political Science S Practical Arts T Law W People X Education Y Spiders Each section looks enough like the last, though the books within have immense power. Pick up the wrong book, and you might conjure a dragon or a historical figure! You must persist and avoid making too much noise or breaking too many things. Or else the Librarian, a tall mass of knotted fabric will confiscate your robe and usher you back outside. Your name will be struck from the list, and you must pick a new one to re-enter the library to continue the search. You can try to fight back against him- he may be set alight with the lamp. But should you be starting fires in here? ⏵ NOTES ⏴ Any thread with 15 comments between you and another may be submitted to find a piece of the pearl. There are 20 pieces altogether, and we will determine if the mission was successful by March 28th. A post will go live on the OOC comm for this! This mission occurs out of time, similar to how the spaceship had. Meaning, those currently in game can experience these events any time between now, and March 14th. Please direct all questions to our mod queries comment! ⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Comments

[ornithologist]

[ He deeply dislikes this answer. His frown deepens, then smooths out. Harold isn't about to bombard a total stranger, especially not a young girl, with his strong opinions about moral philosophy and the value of individual life. But it does reinforce his decision to keep an eye on her. He'll have to play a longer game with this one. ]

It would be nice to think we're leaving the world a better rather than worse place for our successors, [ he agrees, in a purposefully mild tone. ]

My name is Harold Finch. Do you have a name you use? It seems the Archive is properly a title.

[ If this is another Accelerator situation, he's going to be so miffed. #letkidshavenames ]

[constants]

[ That's a sufficient answer. The Archive is only 14, even with thousands of years of memories she doesn't understand the nuance of his reply. She thinks he understands her intentions. ]

It's nice to meet you, Mister Finch. I do not have a given name, I am simply the Archive.

[ Even though she would never go by it now, she was never given a name. Her mother never thought of her as a name. Even in her memories of the brief time her mother was the Archive there was never a name. ]

[ornithologist]

[ Yes, he's miffed. Harold shifts in contained annoyance and then automatically reaches up to make sure he hasn't unbalanced the juvenile wren on his shoulder. ]

But is there one that you use? [ he pushes. ] I must insist. It doesn't feel appropriate to call a young woman by her function.

[ She'd seemed formal so far; maybe an appeal to propriety will work. ]

[constants]

[ The thing with being around people who do not see her as the Archive is that they apply all these "normal people" rules to her. Having a name seems to be a sticking point. Are people so attached to their names? It's true the name that Harry Dresden gave her is one she holds dear; the first time someone thought of her not as the Archive. It was a thrill that first time, and while it doesn't feel as special now there's still something... soft in her chest. ]

No, I have no given name. What would you call me?

[ It's the same offer she made Harry: pick a name, if you're so insistent on me having one. ]

[ornithologist]

I'm disinclined to pick for you, [ he demurs, ] but for convenience's sake I may pick something if that's alright. Perhaps Ms. Corvus?

[ Bird-themed, of course, if it's left up to Harold's discretion. Picking a last name seems less intrusive than a first, maybe because he's constantly changing his own. And having dealt with how annoying it is to have an acquaintance named Accelerator, Harold finds himself more willing to come up with something than he was initially. ]

[constants]

[ Oh. He actually picked one. There's something warm and fluttery inside as she thinks about it, rolls it around in her mind. Crows and their closest siblings are remarkable birds, highly intelligent and playful as well. ]

Why Corvus? Do you like birds?

[ She doesn't actually have any issues with the name, she's mostly curious. ]

[ornithologist]

Yes, Finch is a name I decided on for myself.

[ Not a fact he typically shares outright but one that is patently obvious after enough time talking to him. Which Harold has come to accept is something that will happen in Etraya. The population is small and stable enough that he has, unfortunately, no remote hope of remaining relatively anonymous. ]

I find it a suitable naming scheme, one I may as well share with others.

[constants]

[ Finch is a... cute name. She likes little birds, they're cute. Speaking of cute birds— ]

Is that why you have a bird?

[ The Archive wants to ask if she can hold it; is it soft? Would it let her? ]

[ornithologist]

[ Harold has not caught on to her ulterior motive. He just sighs. ]

I assume so, though several others received them as well. It wasn't deliberate on my part, I assure you.

Perhaps you already know, but this is a wren. [ He absolutely is not going to comment on why getting a wren is even more appropriate than getting a finch. ]

[constants]

[ The Archive thinks about what she knows about wrens. In retrospect it does look like the descriptions and drawings of wrens, though she didn't notice it before. They seem like good birds in her opinion. ]

I recognize it now that you say so. It's very cute.