etrayamemes | TDM 002

Entry tags:

!tdm

TDM 002

⏵ arrival⏴
Arrival goes as anticipated. Characters awaken in the pristine, new hospital, greeted by Aurora and potentially getting a rundown of what's happening depending on their approach to being dropped somewhere new. The door to their room opens, and new arrivals are left free to explore their new environment.

When the first round of citizens arrived, Aurora and the companion bots had been largely unprepared. This time? They made sure to put up welcome banners, even if the sentiment isn't quite right. There are cupcakes and cookies set out in the hospital's lobbies, and a digital map has been placed just in front of the entrance of the hospital, telling others how to reach the various locations throughout Etraya. Companion bots wander throughout the city, some carrying construction equipment to half-built facilities while others act as nurses, servers, or sales associates throughout the constructed buildings.

⏵ rainy awakenings ⏴

Many concepts are new to Aurora, including rain. She is familiar with how it functions, and its purpose, but rain has never been present on the lands of Etraya. Given how new it is, that may not be all too surprising - but the method of how it’s being introduced is… a little much. Rainfall commences in the early days of April, a persistent downpour that waxes and wanes in intensity but never ceases entirely.

Most nights in Etraya are characterized by a soothing patter of rain against rooftops. Yet, some nights leave the grounds flooded come morning. Rivers begin to swell, the current much too strong to justify trying to go for a swim. These showers also bring a new assortment of plants blooming across the green lands: bright blossoms whose petals spread wide when the yellow sun shines down on them, while numerous cherry blossom trees have grown out of nowhere, flourishing despite the rainfall. Clover carpets the grassy expanses of the islands, weaving a beautiful tapestry of color across the grounds.

⏵ Getting drenched by the rain can trigger a surge, followed by a slump. Initially, individuals will feel giddy, excited, full of energy, and ready to take on the world. However, in the subsequent days, they’ll find themselves feeling depressed, lacking the energy and motivation to move forward. Aurora advises that these effects are only temporary and should fade within the week, but they can be resolved more quickly by embracing a stranger. Attempting to hug anyone they already know well will not produce the same effect.

⏵ With the rain comes a significant increase in the greenery around Etraya that isn’t fake. Most of these plants will resemble ones originally found in the characters' universes.

⏵ A couple of these plants contain magical properties:

The Emberloom is a bright red, fiery flower that only inhabits smaller land masses. Those exposed to its pollen will experience heightened aggression and impulsivity.

Shadowbloom resemble tulips during the day, but during the night the petals open and it looks more like the night sky: dark petals with specs of white throughout them. Growing too close to the apartment building for comfort, those who look at the petals after nightfall will fall into a deep sleep. Worse yet: the dreams they find themselves in are not their own, but are the dreams of other residents. Ones who had not looked into the Shadowbloom, but had drifted off to sleep elsewhere on the planet. The one who looked into the Shadowbloom will find they cannot awaken until the person whose dream they have entered does.

These flowers will continue to bloom through April, after which the companion bots will search for and remove them from the atmosphere bubble.

⏵ If there is a specific, unique plant that those in game (or those accepted during the next round!) would like to add, please comment to the LOCATIONS page! We’ll add mentions of these to the Outskirts section.

Along with the botanical resurgence, numerous new animals appear: glowing fish swim freely through the waters. In the canopy above, new species of birds and critters flit among the branches. Some diligently construct new nests in anticipation of the coming spring, while others seek refuge in the shelter of trees, retreating from the weather.

Not all the creatures are so small, or so peaceful.

⏵ Small critters make themselves comfortable in the forested area around Etraya, staying mostly out of the way. There are the occasional visitors that will let themselves in through windows for a quick visit, or maybe a snack, but they’re mostly harmless.

⏵ Several larger beasts make their way into the city to try and find land that’s more habitable for them. Giraffes navigate gracefully through the areas designated for new arrivals, using their elongated necks to reach for the foliage near the hospital when they aren’t finding new places to make themselves comfortable. An eclectic array of cats, ranging in all sizes and breeds, brazenly saunter into buildings they don’t belong. Hopefully, the lioness lounging in the apartment complex's common area does not prevent residents from reaching their rooms, because she has no intention of yielding.

⏵ The leopard adorned with a rattlesnake tail in the hospital's cafeteria may be difficult to ignore, given his determination to devour everything in sight and attack anyone in his way.

⏵ Cat scratches and bites pose a significant risk of infection. In the event a character is injured, individuals can expect the companion bots to quickly seek them out and approach them with a special antibiotic cream developed specifically for these cats. Refusal of treatment may result in severe symptoms, including high fevers and itching. In extreme cases, individuals may begin to exhibit cat-like characteristics, ranging from physical alterations to changes in mental traits.

⏵ Numerous other creatures of all shapes and sizes will be coming and going through the city. You may play with this as you wish!

While the uproar caused by these guests doesn’t particularly bother Aurora, she does send out a message to everyone wearing an earpiece to request their assistance in capturing the larger animals that her companion bots may not be able to handle themselves. She has converted an island to the East into a temporary holding area until the companion bots can set them up with something a little more permanent.

⏵ network ⏴

Welcome to Etraya! Upon your arrival, Aurora provided an earpiece, a device to make communication with others stuck in the same situation more simple. The device connects to an internal network, which is accessible by everyone else currently residing on planet. Whether you’re looking for guidance, camaraderie, or want to see if there are any familiar faces around, this is the perfect place to do it! Please feel free to post any questions, offer your name, ask for assistance, or maybe complain to the powers that be about how you’ve got better things to be doing than sitting around here completing their missions. Maybe they’re listening. Maybe they’re not.

⏵ NOTES⏴

⏵ During April, Etraya’s getting a little wet! Those who spend too long in the rain may experience a few unfortunate effects.

⏵ The rain brings in new flora, including a couple that may cause characters to experience aggression and impulsivity, or take a stroll through others’ dreams.

⏵ New animals also appear! While many of them are friendly, others… are less so. The cats specifically seem to be a little grumpy. Characters scratched or bitten by these cats may find themselves becoming just as catty.

For any questions relating to the contents of this log, please reply below. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ. The TDM is game canon, meaning everything happening above is occurring within the game properly. Those who apply to join in the April application round may keep their TDM threads as game canon.

⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

i. rooftops

[ Etraya seems to be in no short supply of costumed figures patrolling rooftops in masks and capes, these days. But anyone who's paying attention can probably tell that there's something different about this newest addition. He's just as quick and nimble as any other vigilante one might find, but he fills out the form fitting suit a little more, and the light blue fabric and octagonal bat sigil on his chest are definitely new.

Baixi is less focused on what other superheroes may or may not be around. His attention is centered squarely on a large cougar which has made its way into a part of the city that he's pretty sure cougars aren't supposed to be in. The place seems mostly inhabited by these companion bots, but even so, on the off chance that an innocent bystander does come by, he doesn't want anyone to get hurt.

So, he bides his time, following the cougar from above until it's in a position he likes, at which point out comes the grappling hook and net gun from pouches on his belt! He shoots a grappling line to a nearby light post, and swings down from the rooftop, cape unfurled behind him, landing more gracefully on his feet than his large stature would hint at. In one fluid motion he's off again, firing a net at the cougar and allowing the trailing rope to feed through his hands, until he can pull it taught and secure it to the very same light post he just swung down on. Once that's done, all that's left to do is to tap his new earpiece and call in a companion bot to come take the beast to the containment zone. ]

Aurora. I've got another one for you. Come have your people gather it.

[ It's only then that he will notice— he's not alone in this square. He turns, looking a little sheepish, but quickly putting on more confident airs and speaking in the tone of voice of someone who's used to communicating with the press. ]

Um.. Move along! Nothing to see here.

ii. big belly burger

[ Later on, after Baixi has had a chance to get a change of clothes from Roxx, he explores the city from ground level, dressed in unassuming civilian clothes— a grey rain jacket pulled over a blue tee shirt and black jeans. Much to his surprise, he comes across a burger chain restaurant that he's only ever heard about on news broadcasts from America— Big Belly Burger. Elated and curious, despite himself, he goes inside immediately and orders himself a cheeseburger and a Soder cola.

Sitting down to eat as the rain patters on the window outside, he gets one sip into his drink before he pulls the straw out of his mouth and remarks, ] Mm! American colas are way too sugary!

[ Maybe he should have ordered Diet Soder instead. ]

iii. network

username: biānfú

What exactly should I be expecting, for these missions? Aurora explained a lot, but still left a good amount to the imagination, and I would rather go into things as prepared as possible, so I don't wind up in over my head.

[ There's a man in a mask. That's not entirely unusual. Carver himself has a mask hooked to his belt, a skull painted on stark black, empty eyes and bright teeth grinning wide as a message to their enemies. It's better to be a monster in the dark. The dead don't care but the enemy flinches, the enemy wastes precious time on their instinctive fear of monsters and their mamas telling stories about the boogeyman in the closet. Masks are a tool, same as anything in this world.

The cape's new, though.

Carver tilts his head, doglike. He's been watching silently. Considering the gear this man carries. The mask. And the cougar currently growling and thrashing inside the net.

That could be dinner. The meat would last a long time if properly butchered and preserved.

The cape, though. That's something else. And Carver considers the very real possibility that he's hallucinating. ]

Don't waste the meat.

[ ...Okay. Baixi will admit, he's prepared for a lot of things, but that was not one of them.

He's a bit stymied before he utters out a reply, hoping he can avoid sounding too flustered or confused. ]

There is food... readily available at the diner. You don't need to slaughter an innocent animal.

[ As someone whose girlfriend was once an animal, he has more of a respect for fauna than he used to. But even before he learned about Deilan's history, he wouldn't have been okay with something like this out of the blue. Especially when no one is at risk of starving here. ]

[ Carver cocks his head, doglike. His gaze never wavers, not for a second. You have to watch your corners, son, Pope murmurs in his ear. An old lesson. An older truth. Your enemy will never let up, not for a second. Are you going to make it easy for them?

No, sir.

If this is a hallucination—maybe—then it's an odd one. A game he can't see the edges of, that no one's bothered explaining the rules to. ]

That shit doesn't last. It never does. Are you fucking stupid?

[ Carver doesn't step closer. He keeps the distance. But he watches. Always, always watching. Whatever this is, man or ghost, it's surely a test. ]

[ The man tilts his head in an unsettling way, and Baixi shifts his weight, purposefully interposing himself between the man and the cougar. He also makes no move to close any distance, but wants to make it clear that if this guy wants to hurt the cougar, he's going to have to go through him. ]

We don't know that it won't. I'll grant you that we don't know that it will, either, but that's no reason to jump to such a drastic conclusion.

[ Oh. Are they going to dance? Carver considers the distance between them and the easy way the other man shifts to protect the cougar. Positioning himself like a shield. Fighters move a certain way when they get good enough. There's a certain lightness to how they hold themselves. A predator's stillness.

It's familiar. Carver has a stolen knife tucked up his sleeve and another in his boot, but no pistol. No whip to mitigate the distance between them. And this man has all sorts of tricks, doesn't he? All sorts of gear.

He shrugs, spreading his hands out wide. An old fighter's trick. The human eye's attracted to movement. And if the enemy's watching his hands, then they aren't watching the rest of him. Even now, in this place, Carver's wearing sap gloves. ]

It's just what happens.

[ His smile flashes teeth. A taunt and a warning both. He wonders if this man's ever been hungry—really hungry. Maybe not. Maybe that'll be a lesson for all of them. ]

What's it to you? Hmm?

[ If his pudgy belly is anything to go by, then no, Baixi has not known the kind of hunger that this guy is clearly concerned with. But there's muscle underneath the fat, and Baixi likes his chances if this is going to turn into a fight. He would rather it didn't, but he's prepared for any eventuality.

As the other man's arms go wide, Baixi's eyes do flick out to follow the movement, but they quickly return to the man's face. He stays put, still hoping that they can find some nonviolent resolution. ]

It hasn't done anything to hurt anyone. It's just lost. Would you want someone to cut you down just because you found yourself in the wrong neighborhood?

[ There’s something so quietly absurd about the question that Carver just stares at the other man for a good three seconds, unblinking and utterly still. Breathing steady, weight evenly spread. Ready, ready, ready.

And then he just laughs because really, fucking really? That’s the sticking point? ]

You’re funny, [ Carver observes, not kindly. ] What’s with the fetish gear?

[ Plenty of people have laughed at Baixi, some with fondness, and some with intent to wound. He can recognize the difference better than a lot of people. ]

It's... a uniform...

[ It occurs suddenly to Baixi that the whole premise of this place is that it is a gathering of people from different universes, a gauntlet where representatives from different worlds try to prove that theirs is worth saving.

Exactly what kind of world did this man come from? He looks fierce, savage. Overly concerned with finding and securing his next meal. And he doesn't seem to know what a costumed vigilante is. ]

I think there may be some things lost in translation between us.

[ A uniform, he says, and Carver's lip curls. Disgust is easy. A reflex from even before the world ended, when they all came home strange and brittle and the world balked at his brothers and sisters, and all they'd done on those fateful orders. For God and country, people liked to say, as if they had any notion of God. Carver's got no use for nations anymore, but he wears a different uniform now. Patchwork and bloodstained, but still his.

He feels the sigil hanging around his neck like a promise. This moment might be a dream. This man probably is. Carver knows, deep down, that he has a tendency to spin sometimes. Get worked up so hard and so fast he doesn't always know which way is up. A grievous sin, but a familiar one.

So is this.

His fingers twitch. Aching for the weight of a knife. He could kill this man, Carver knows. Hang him from a tree for God and the rest to see. Maybe, maybe, maybe. But he hears Shaw's voice, too. Hold, Carve. Focus on the objective. ]

Oh, yeah?

[ He steps closer, circling around this man and the cougar. Waiting to see what comes of it. Whether it's a dream or something a little stranger. But probably it's a dream, he thinks. A reckoning for all his sins. ]

[ Something is going to kick off. The man moves, and Baixi feels like he's standing in between a lit match and a case of black powder. If only he had his teammates with him— with Kenan's or Avery's speed, stopping this guy would be a breeze. They could move to restrain him faster than he could blink. Even Deilan, with her lasso, could easily stop him from making a move against the cougar. But Baixi, on his own? It's going to take him time to reload his net gun. Time he would rather spend trying to stall things until the companion bots can get here. ]

What's your name?

[ Maybe if he can keep him talking, this will end any way other than violently. ]

You're stalling, [ Carver observes, and stays moving. Names don't matter nearly as much as people think. It's just a detail, noise in the wind. And this man probably isn't real at all. Probably just a ghost Carver dreamt up, something strange dredged up from the recesses of his mind to make some metaphorical point or another - though he can't imagine what that'd be in a place like this, in a moment like this.

Then again, his dreams always end bloody. He watches his brothers die more often than he doesn't. ]

Why bother?

Maybe.

[ He may as well own up to it, since it's that obvious. There may be no point trying to public relations his way out of this one, he's beginning to realize. ]

I could ask you the same. Why bother slaughtering it when it's done nothing to you?

Wang Baixi • DC comics

Rooftops

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cw: cult shit

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network » un: robin

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