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

the task at hand.

[brat]

( how many soft robes of hurting can one library have?

at least two, if the one robin the fifth here has on over his own cloak has anything to say about it. an almost blood red, it's nearly as long as his cloak but not quite - and despite it's name, musashi the rat seems to find the fabric beside damian's collar to be comfortable enough. it works out well for damian, who takes advantage of the rat's silence to follow around the other robin.

the uniform is difficult to mistranslate; it doesn't match up with a specific robin uniform that he's familiar with, but they've all added their own touches and edited along the way as needed. the stupid name he gives the rat is significantly more telling. )

What makes you think it isn't all of the above? ( - says the voice from behind one of the bookshelves, just before damian saunters his way on out from his current hiding place, and offers out a red-gloved hand

containing spiders. small, fuzzy, jumping spiders. his spiders now. )

[hackingyoursensors]

[ He figured he was being followed and observed, but he didn't think it was by another teenager... in a suit that looks like his. It's hard to read Dick's expression with his mask on, but anyone who knows (a version of) him, can tell he's assessing Damian. The outfit, the cadence of his voice, his movements, what he says and doesn't say.

Dick keeps his tone light, his body language loose. If he needs to react, he doesn't want to give away his intentions. ]

Fair enough. Are you the guide for the Spider section?

[brat]

( richard grayson excels at appearing to be relaxed and at ease when he's anything but. damian knows this; he's spent long enough beside his older brother to be able to read his expressions. but this isn't nightwing. and while he's not surprised at the arrival of another robin, it's still - disconcerting.

robin watches him, and he watches robin in return. keeps himself tense in comparison to this robin's more - easy body language. as if he's ready for a fight. less because he is waiting for the fight to start, more because he wants this robin to believe he is. )

No. I assume I'm here for the same purpose you are.

[hackingyoursensors]

[ Damian's tense body language keeps Dick on edge. His relaxed demeanor doesn't change, but his expression is still scrutinizing. ]

To see why they have a whole section of the library called Spiders?

[brat]

To find the pearl.

( and figure out why there's an entire section of the library called spiders, but that's secondary. damian takes his handful of new spider-friends, turning it over atop one of the shelves to encourage them to leave his hand. some stick to the fabric of his glove, and the rat squeaks indignantly. )

Did you arrive alongside anyone else, Robin?

( more robins are manageable. more batmen is something else entirely. )

[hackingyoursensors]

[ He watches as the other teen puts the spiders down. Curious, slowly building a mental profile based on what little he knows.

Ah, digging for information. Time to be annoying about it. ]

Should I have?

[brat]

( there's nothing more annoying than answering a question with a question.

or, okay, there is. and it's the at-ease body language this robin is intentionally putting on. he sees you, dick grayson, in all of your annoying and childish glory. )

Do you have to do this?

[hackingyoursensors]

[ Robin gives Ratsby some gentle scritches. Don't pay attention to the fact that he's slipped his other hand behind his cape. He's trying to keep the situation light, but he's also not stupid. ]

Do what?

[brat]

Be an annoyance.

( robin the first reaches behind his cape, and robin the second - flicks his wrist, loosening the blade stored against his forearm so it slides down and against his palm. he's not planning to use it, but considering this guy's reaching for something - damian may as well also have a weapon in hand. )

[hackingyoursensors]

[ Dick raises an eyebrow at that little trick. He'd already noticed that the other "Robin's" suit is more than a slick-looking Halloween costume. The design, construction, and materials are cutting-edge tech on par with Wayne Industries' secret R&D department.

This other teen has skill. Rather than being put off by the trick with the knife, Dick is intrigued. The smile on his face becomes a touch sharper. ]

Is that really how a fanboy talks to his hero? I mean the costume is wrong but I'll give you points for style.

[brat]

You wish I was a fanboy.

( considering the nightwing hoodie damian has back in the manor on etraya that he wears frequently during his downtime, it's not all that far off. except that's nightwing, not - this.

the blade stays in hand, even if he's not currently utilizing it. )

I'm Robin. The blood son of Batman.

[hackingyoursensors]

[ Flatly: ] No, I'm the son of Batman and I'd definitely know if I have a brother.

[ He is, in fact, not the son of the Bat. But enough people start rumors back home that it's not hard to play up.

The hand under his cape grasps his escrima stick, preparing to parry a blow. ]

And Robin is taken. Try a different bird.

[brat]

( there are enough alternate versions of people damian knows that aren't quite how they're supposed to be that damian doesn't doubt that statement to be true. or, he knows this robin is his father's child, but maybe the circumstances behind bruce getting ahold of him had been different. )

I didn't choose the name, I inherited it.

[hackingyoursensors]

Uh, I don't remember putting out an ad for a successor.

[ It's not that Dick thinks he'll always be Robin. He'd assumed Bruce was training him to take over the mantle of Batman one day. (Something he now truly understands that he doesn't want.) So maybe he'll be Batman or pick up a new name or even walk away from it all.

But right now, he's definitely Robin.

And a little irritation is definitely leaking through his otherwise carefully-casual vibe. ]

[brat]

Yes, well. Welcome to the multiverse.

( there are further explanations he can provide. it wouldn't be difficult, to get into how dick grayson became nightwing, how todd took over - skipping the part about his death - and how there were multiple other robins until eventually, grayson had taken over the mantle of batman temporarily, and damian had become his robin.

but that would take time, and effort, and for all damian knows, this could be yet another warped version of someone he's familiar with. no need to share data with someone who could very well turn out to be an enemy. )

Have you found anything yet?

[hackingyoursensors]

[ The multiverse. Dick can't say it's outside of the realm of possibility. But there's also a possibility that the other teen is messing with him, trying to throw him off-balance. In either case, he's got to get traught.

Dick rolls his shoulders and tries not to wince. That fight with the brainwashed Justice League was only a few hours ago, and he's still sore. ]

Other than spiders? Nothing. But Ratsby needs another familiar to find clues.

[brat]

( unfortunately for robin the first, damian trained himself specifically to catch onto the physical tells of the others in his family. meaning: he recognizes the roll of dick's shoulders for what it is. )

Anything broken? Dislocated?

( does he need medical attention that damian could, theoretically, assist with before they go any deeper into this mess. )

[hackingyoursensors]

[ Dick is caught off-guard for a moment. He'd expect Bruce to notice, maybe Wally or Kaldur if they were paying close attention, but not a stranger he just met.

Then again, he's clearly good with a knife. Why not be scary good at reading body language? ]

No, just sore. Didn't get a chance to rest from my last mission.

[brat]

Learn to manage your limitations better.

( the words are harsh, yes, but the tone damian uses is something closer to how bruce sounds when he's trying to be helpful, but failing drastically. damian reaches for his own provided rat, and holds him carefully in hand to offer him out to grayson. )

Musashi should be able to assist.