TDM 007

[etrayamods]

content warnings for this TDM include: violence, potential death, body horror, physical transformation, loss of senses, loss of autonomy ⏵ arrival⏴ Arrival does not happen as Aurora usually plans for it. New characters are introduced to the AI, then informed of a mission that they are required to participate in before they can return to their home base of Etraya. A world called Aphaia is falling apart, and while there is nothing they can do to resolve this broken world, they can participate in the Gamerunner's Stratagem. Their mission is simple: step through the glowing purple portal that Aurora creates once they've had time to listen to her, and survive until a similar portal reopens in front of them, allowing them to return to Etraya. The Gamerunner's Stratagem is something they have been working on building for quite some time. She informs all newcomers that they will not be present on this world that long: their exit will appear to them exactly when it's meant to, allowing them to meet the others who have been recruited to save their worlds. She provides each and every arrival with an earpiece, allowing them to communicate with the other Etrayans. Aurora suggests taking a bag full of supplies along with them, which she will fill with a few generic items as well as any specific items they may need: synthetic blood for vampires, protein bars for those who may burn through calories faster, medication for anyone who requires it. ⏵ aphaia ⏴ Aphaia is a neon-lit, chaotic planet. Cameras are everywhere, every action and inaction is judged by the 'audience'. Towering holograms advertise upcoming events while flashing leader boards track the most "popular" players. Contestants are thrown into challenges, many of which are games of skill, survival, and deception all to keep the viewers entertained. Not participating is an option! However, avoiding playing along and not putting on a show will quickly cause participants' score to go down, and scores that reach zero? Well. Unfortunately, there are only so many resources left on Aphaia. Their wildlife has died off, their planet is falling apart, and most others in this galaxy were either destroyed from the inside out, or warring planets trying to gain control of remaining resources destroyed them to avoid others getting involved. Their natural resources are depleted, and only those who manage to keep their scores up are given the luxury of having any supplies. As soon as one steps foot on Aphaia, as soon as they breathe, they intake nanotechnology which tracks their oxygen consumption, their food, everything they do or need. As soon as their scores reach zero? They disappear. There one moment, and completely gone the next. Their communicators go offline, and while everything they were carrying will be left behind, no one will be able to find them. They are simply--gone, erased from existence. This is a death and counts as a death as outlined in the game FAQ! Please keep this in mind. "Points" that go towards their total score will be assigned to contestants from the moment they drop down on planet. This will be visible using the HUD on their earpiece, and will be randomized at the beginning. For the sake of the TDM, we ask that no one be assigned Paragon initially, but you're free to use other ranks! The possible rankings are: 100: PARAGON 99-80: LUMINARY 79-70: CHAMPION 69-50: CONTENDER 49-30: UNDERLING 30-0: SHADE Ranks may change daily, or even hourly depending on the kind of situation one has found themselves in. Are they having a very public break up in which it comes out that they wronged their ex? They may go from a Champion to a Shade before they can even blink. Did they save a defenseless reporter from the big bad villain of the week? They may find themselves quickly elevated up to Luminary and given all the benefits that comes with being upper class. The world is their oyster, they only need to figure out how they'd like to utilize it! Aphaia is broken up into four districts. The Colosseum is a dynamic battle arena where combatants fight for entertainment, with shifting environments controlled by the audience. Victories earn points, while losses depend on performance. The Symposium is a lavish social hub for top contestants, where alliances and betrayals are made under the audience’s watchful eye. The Agora is the public center of Aphaia, where contestants engage with the audience through polls, interviews, and challenges to maintain popularity. It also houses the contestants in high-rise apartments. And Backalleys provide hidden spaces with intentional blind spots for secret dealings, though the Gamerunner is always aware of what happens there. ⏵ st★rlight soirée ⏴ Something special is happening in the Colosseum. Lights flicker as the arena shifts, rearranging itself into a grand, glittering ballroom - if a ballroom had stadium seating, paparazzi drones, and an ever-changing floor plan designed to disorient those within it. Silver chandeliers pulse with artificial starlight, their glow refracted through the crystalline floors. Music swells, but it sounds - unnatural. It thrums through your veins, setting your blood alight with the urge to dance. Why is the ballroom designed as if intentionally put together to throw off one's balance? Well, it's time for the Panopticon Prom, of course! The Panopticon Prom isn't just an adventure in dancing and impressing your most recent crush. It's a test of endurance, cunning, grace, and charm. The floor beneath your feet moves as if it has a mind of it's own, shifting to the beat like a living creature all of it's own. It tilts, undulates, even vanishing in sections to keep dancers on edge. After all, it's difficult to keep up one's pace if they're falling through a hole in the floor to the foam pit below. Drones zip through the air, catching every stumble, every misstep, and every attempt to throw off others on the dance floor. This is a competition, after all; and what fun is a dance battle without having the freedom to thwart someone else on their road to victory? The rules are simple: You must dance with a partner. This can be an ally, an enemy, or someone you intend on using as a stepping stone to victory. It matters not, as long as you have one hand (or limb) on them at all times. The longer you last, the better your chances. Endurance is the name of the game, meaning one must pace themselves on the dance floor. While epic twirls and impressive moves will garner more attention, it may also hurt your chances in the long run. You may sabotage others by throwing them off balance, but keep in mind: everything is televised, and it won't stay secret for long. The arena adapts to the chaos. Expect sudden obstacles, environmental shifts, and sudden changes in the music's tempo. Gravity may shift, walls may close in, but participants can't let that stop them - they must continue to dance, if they wish to win. The audience is watching. Who will make the final cut and become Prom King and Queen? Everyone is vying for the titles: it doesn't matter what rank you started at when you joined the Panopticon Prom. Whoever wins becomes a Paragon until their points drop. There aren't many opportunities to sail through the rankings, but this is a sure way to do it. As long as they can keep up. ⏵ casino royale ⏴ Out in the Agora, another popular quarterly event is being set up! The Casino Royale has been destroyed countless times, but it seems as if the Gamerunner just can't let it go - every time it gets knocked down, it gets rebuilt. There is one rule. One must take a turn at the revolving wheel just inside the door as their entry fee, and whatever the wheel lands on, they must maintain until they exit the building for the night. Sometimes, this is easier: an effect they have no control over and cannot undo even if they wanted to. Sometimes, this is more difficult: an assigned task they must complete. Failure to abide by the wheel once means receiving a penalty. Twice? Certain death if caught by any employee. The wheel's effects are as follows: 1 You must speak entirely in rhyme. 2 Your body has become unnaturally delicate. The smallest injury hurts like a fatal wound. 3 You must avoid stepping into any sources of light. Doing so causes massive burns to appear on any area of your skin where light has touched. 4 You have been transformed into an animal! You can still think as you had before, but you cannot speak or communicate easily. 5 You have been cursed with supernatural strength, but cannot control it. 6 Time doesn't flow normally for you anymore. Each mistake you make makes you visibly younger, slowly erasing your experiences, skills, or even memories. 7 You can no longer form your own words, but only repeat what others have said to you. 8 You cannot meet another person's gaze. 9 You can no longer turn around, physically or metaphorically. If you try to return where you came from, you'll find that the pathway no longer exists. 10 You are given a specific letter that you must avoid using out loud entirely. "A"? Better hope you know enough words without one. 11 Every time you speak, your words come true - but never in the way you intended. Trying to control this is futile; the monkey's paw curls with every new sentence. 12 Within the casino, you lose the ability to feel anything. No pain, no pleasure, no warmth, and no cold. At first it may feel like a blessing - until you realize you cannot feel hunger, or tell if you're injured. 13 Regardless of if you've drunken anything, you still act inebriated. The effect only gets worse the longer you stay. 14 No one can see you. You are invisible, even if you are still able to reach out and touch or converse with those around you. 15 Any special ability you have is gone. You are reduced down to what an average human being is capable of - regardless of if you are human. 16 Violent impulses become impossible to ignore. You are rage incarnate, and you will be heard. 17 Every time you make a decision - to walk into an area, to start a conversation, anything, a small thread pulls loose from your clothing or your skin. Keep making choices, and you may become entirely undone. 18 You may speak freely, but for every syllable you say, your ability to hear slowly fades. You may want to watch your word count - too many, and you may not be able to hear at all. 19 Perhaps you arrived with a friend, or beside a stranger. It matters not: whoever came in either just before or just after you, you feel a powerful urge to protect them to the point of aggression. 20 Love is in the air - at least it is for you. Every time you meet someone's gaze, you feel the need to try and make them fall in love with you, through whatever means necessary. The casino is alive with the hum of conversation, the clink of glasses, and the steady whirl of the roulette wheels. Golden chandeliers cast a warm glow over velvet-lined tables, where fortunes are made and lost with the flick of a wrist. But something feels. . . off. The dealers never blink. The cards never seem random. And the house always wins - always. Maybe it's just paranoia, or maybe this casino is something more than just a den of chance. Tonight, you're not here just to play; you're here on a mission. You've arrived dressed to kill, blending into the sea of bodies filling the casino's floors. But you're not here to win points or boost your social standing - you're here to win intel. Somewhere in this casino is a single flash drive containing information on just how Aphaia maintains their system. The only problem? The House knows someone is coming for it. After all, they're well-aware of the game: whoever retrieves the flash drive will obtain information on how to flip the script, to change the rules of the game to fit their wants and needs, rather than following the current Gamerunner. After all, this is the Gamerunner's Stratagem that Aurora has sent them out on! Many apply for 'employment' within the Casino Royale in hopes of getting insider information on where the flash drive is hidden and what it looks like. However, it seems that even the employees have no clue where it has been hidden. ⏵ NOTES ⏴ This is an extension of our Aphaia Mission! We have included enough information in this post that catching up to current in game logs isn't necessary to play with it, but you are welcome to use any part of the Aphaia setting in your prompts as you'd like. Current players are also welcome to bring the events from this TDM into their in-game threads. This mission can happen outside of time as needed! Incoming characters will find themselves introduced to Aphaia as they arrive. Current characters may find Aurora calling on them to visit Aphaia after the current mission for the Gamerunner's Stratagem. Characters already in game are welcome to post to the TDM, too! Please mark them as current characters in your header. Threads can be kept as game canon as long as both characters get into the game! Please direct all questions relating to this log to our mod queries comment! All other questions can be directed to our FAQ. ⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Comments

[rudelanguage]

[the half-orc snatches it up...balls the whole thing up, and stuffs it into his clothes. more clothes more warm.

fuck it, where their skin isn't showing to the world? they will some body hair. be a secret yeti. it's fine.

but by now? they can intuit there's magic nonsense afoot. pity they don't know a counterspell.

gruffly:] Do you...have a dispel skill?

[overconfidently]

( The smirk that touches his lips is soft and barely there but, oh. It's there. )

Don't be so offended. I'll get us out of this and we can move on with our time here.

( In Aphaia and these challenges they're meant to endure.

The moment he senses the presence of their opponents, he opens his eyes — blue looking ahead at the dark magician looking pair that step out. Cloaked in a robe-like armor and wielding what appears to be a staff of some sort, he tilts his head curiously at the sight — picks up on something about them, then lets his arms drop away to his sides. )

Magic users? Something's different about them.

[sophielicious]

(Simultaneously, the conversation with Quentin in her head is not going great. The audacity irks her to no foreseeable end, but seeing Julian like this? She would loathe to admit that Quire might be right, maybe they shouldn't tell everyone unless directly prompted. This anger he feels is nothing new; it's one that everyone that surrounds her feels to some degree, but herself and the Cuckoos? They wanted to act upon it, too.

To spread so much dread, so much more hatred in humans spirits, sponsored, dangerous. Enough to cause a revolution, a new Krakoa that can rise from the ashes. They Five-in-One voted, yes, but... Sophie couldn't do it. Perhaps that's always going to be her individual trait that separates her from the hivemind, this reach for better, noble, and right, and she is paying the price for doing the morally correct thing, again.

The first time was sitting in Cerebro, thick blood running down her nose in her efforts to stop that stupid riot. Then, the Phoenix, and then the Phoenix again. Sophie was just dead, all this time, because of course she has. And now, doing the right thing has left her powers unstable, and she's never been this vulnerable in her entire damn life.

It's frightening.

And maybe, just maybe, this time she doesn't do the right thing, or she moves the goalposts to what the right thing actually is. Spare this pain, instead of dying on the hill of rights and wrongs, and while she's horrible at this, she wants to do something. Her heels are off now, barefoot as she walks through the debris that he left on the floor to sit on it next to him.

... While she very, very quietly tries to go through his mind to see what can soothe him.)

[overconfidently]

( By the time he gets there, the winged mutant is already sitting up as if it were nothing more than a bit of a tumble. Steps slow — arms swinging at his sides and he stands there, staring with those blue eyes of his in surprise. He's seen Wolverine heal before — is capable of bouncing back from things himself, just. He didn't think he'd be running into someone else like that.

Into another mutant. )

That... yeah. Sorry. Everything was just... too loud.

( The mindless chatter of everyone here. )

Looks like you took it like a champ though.

[shadowsincryo]

[Sticking the cloak under their clothes is a bad idea. It is like having skin exposed to a raging blizzard. He rests his hands on his hips.] Not that kind of magic user.

[He adjusts his gloves like someone checking a watch. Without his cloak on he looks a little less flashy. But it’s fine. The air just keeps being colder, but there is no discernible source. Unless one counts what he said.]

[thelightshines]

[Stop. There's suddenly a flurry of a blue dress in his view, blond hair. What was she doing? Don't protect him. He can barely see the other, his tongue clicks.] Don't do this. [He insists with Maria. He can handle himself, don't piss off the other anymore than they already are. But she doesn't want them to be fighting with each other. Being this close to her, he can hear how this was straining her. Dammit.

A good soul? Hah. A sound caught in his throat when he heard that. That's, maybe he believed it once, when another once reassured him in his moment of doubt. Another that was like the one standing before him. All he believes now is that his existence is a curse. He closes his eyes, the intensity of the sparks lessening until they stop. Her well-being is priority right now. She is upset, she is ill. She can't keep acting like this.] Do as he says, please.

[He sits where he was, hands shaking as they form into fists. With anger? pain? sadness? hate? With himself? He was just overwhelmed by the amount of feelings that was weighing him down. Just let him leave, he doesn't want to stay here anymore. It all hurts. Or is this just his punishment to endure, for ever daring to try and do anything outside of what so many think he should be?]

[overconfidently]

( Excuse you, Cable is like his brother. An annoying, alternate older brother. )

Yeah, well. Guess that depends on who's using the weapon.

( To which he eyes her then. )

[hauntedsnowfall]

[ The frown is here to stay. ]

Agreed. I can’t fathom why their leaders chose this instead of pouring their resources into saving everyone. Surely there must be a way.

[ It’s clear now Dimitri’s frustration was being kept back before- hidden behind that porcelain smile. That mask slipped fast. Dimitri’s skill at hiding his emotions has been waning these past few months… ]

Even now! We’re here and Aurora chooses to do nothing for the suffering of these people. She holds the ability to pull us to and fro through these alien worlds, yet she won’t lift a finger for these people and their universe.

[ The impassioned speech sets fires in Dimitri’s eyes. He’s shifting his weight and gesturing to the crowd as he talks. His frustration is buzzing around inside him. It’s an energy that needs an outlet.

The entry fee truly is a steep toll. It limits his options drastically. ]

[overconfidently]

( The sound that leaves him is one of gentle amusement and he drops his arms down to his sides, throwing a sidelong glance over to his partner here. )

Not really looking to kill them, so you might want to keep that bloodlust in check.

( He's not really sure what sort of partner he has here, but. This is all for a stupid show, isn't it? One doesn't need to kill to make it entertaining, he figures. )

[rudelanguage]

What th--

[WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THIS GUY'S CLOTHES! Knife yanks it away from their body and throws it away out of reflex, staggering backward and patting themself down.]

It's you-- Bah! Cold-blooded rotten--! [they hiss, locking their jaw to keep from freeform cursing.]

[resurrxion]

That's just cruel. Do you know what Quire puts me through?

[resurrxion]

[ well, he can't argue with that. julian grabbed onto his chair for a reason and that reason is apparently because he wants to make out with him. sure.

this is not even the first time this has happened to him. ]

I [ he stretches the word out, considering. trying to scan julian for any signs of being mind controlled or, like, drunk to the point where this is a good idea. ] guess not.

[sophielicious]

Nope, but you do know this is Sophie Cuckoo speaking?

(THE RIOT CASUALTY.)

[resurrxion]

[ fucking whoops

he gives a heavy sigh ]

Point proven. Fine, I'll wrangle him.

[sophielicious]

(can't even blame him the un is ON PURPOSE)

All this because you want to take the dog in the divorce? Just don't divorce me.

[vexant]

Not a telepath, but there's less people so I'm guessing it's quieter. And there's less action.

( with less dance competitions, too. her hand grabs hold of - well. the end of his arm, and julian makes a displeased face before he shifts so she's holding his hand instead. he's less bothered by the prosthetics than he is the scar tissue just above it. )

We have an advantage anyway. I could just throw everyone else off the dance floor.

[resurrxion]

[ that awkward moment when you only really know three-in-one and now there's five of them ]

Pretty sure you're way out of my league, but I'm down to make it work if you are.

[sophielicious]

To be fair to you specifically, I'm out of everyone's league.

(M'AAM)

Sure. Why throw away all these beautiful moments we totally, super had? We can stay together at least until the kids go to college.

arrival / un: blaze

[fireboost]

[ truthfully, blaze is only so proficient with tech like this. it seems like something that tails would put together, but without the explanation rich with jargon she can assume the meaning of through context. so far, she's managed to access some of the menus—enough to assign her device with her name, but she hasn't gotten so far as to understand the network fully when a voice speaks to her.

naturally, she bristles, skipping straight past the small talk to what's important here: ]

Who are you? How are you speaking to me?

[resurrxion]

And if they don't, we can dump 'em on sitters and take a cruise far, far away from the blast zone.

[ which at this point is the elixir special. ]

Seriously though, are things good here?

[shadowsincryo]

[He catches his cloak before it hits the ground. He shakes it once and pulls it on. The moment Knife left Kaeya’s personal space it is like hitting the outside during a humid summer in comparison.

Now Knife is far enough away he lets his magic be visible. Pale blue light spills out of him like fog wrapping a mountain top. It vanishes as he puts a finger to the side of his jaw.] I did say step back.

[rudelanguage]

[their hand curls a fistful of fabric over their heart, jaw clenched until the compulsion for teeth to chatter, a growl in their breath.]

Is that. Just a thing. With you?

[vexant]

( he is, unfortunately, mostly sober. he's had a fruity drink he would deny having if anyone ever saw him drinking it, but it's not nearly enough to effect him. and while it's not mind control, just - well. one has to spin the wheel when they walk into the casino, right? look, he's fine. this is totally a normal thing for him. which is why he's dropping the hand from the back of the chair, and the one that's pressing down against it by josh's leg, to lean back so he's not in josh's personal bubble. it's not with intent of actually leaving this whole debacle, just, )

You like me, don't you?

( you'd better fucking love him, foley. has it been forever and a half since they've even been in the same room as each other without being surrounded by dozens of other mutants? yes. does that matter right now? absolutely not. )

[sophielicious]

... Maybe we do just that, anyway. You won.

(The keyword is CRUISE. He's in her best graces of all the boys. Congratulations, Josh.)

I just got here. I know as much as you know.

(Eeeeeeeeeeeeh......)

I

[thelightshines]

[The backalleys may bring some reprieve from the louder spaces in this world, but it still doesn't keep one away from it's dangers. There's a commotion down the path, bellows and shouts of various aliens that inhabit these alleys can be heard. There will be people fleeing as one approaches the scene, t he sound of weapons being fired being heard in the distance. The number of people sprawled on the floor, gradually increase the closer to the scene. Not dead, but knocked out, some with various injuries from cuts to bruises. Those who are still able to say anything, utter something about a devil beast.

A plume of flames burst from one of the buildings, those that could flee trying to escape. Standing on the rooftop of a non burning buildings, was a small dark creature, being pursued by a group of aliens in uniform. There's the sound of their various weapons firing, Shadow easily weaving through their attacks to take them out, one at a time. It feels like everytime Shadow takes out one though, another simply takes their place. He nearly slips off the edge, but in a flash, he disappears to suddenly reappear at street level. More uniformed individuals wait below, getting into positions. Tch. A frustrating inconvninence.]