acatamods: (Default)
acatamods. ([personal profile] acatamods) wrote in [community profile] acatalepsy_logs2019-02-12 12:27 pm

welcome to the horologium.






welcome to the horologium.
Some of you know it is coming. The World Jump, the chaotic thrust into a new universe. But some of you are new, and though you know what the mission is, it is a bit . . . troubling, sitting around and waiting for something to happen. But eventually, you get a message on your watch. It shows Astoria . . . dark hair framing her features, her voice light and musical. She sounds like herself, for the first time in some time . . . that spark of determination back in her eyes.

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD WITCH.
"It is time, my beloved Travelers, to go to our new destination . . . and I want you to know that I have the utmost faith in you. Akvos' loss has hurt us all, and I know that many of you doubt our mission. But please believe me when I say that you have done the best job anyone could ask of you. Akvos' destruction was not your fault . . . and to our newest members of our Circle, welcome to our journey. I can only hope that your journey here will work out to the benefit of us all."

That being said, you are journeying to the Horologium . . . it is a ship that has sent out a distress beacon. I am not sure when, or where, but I can feel great darkness, emanating from that place. I believe you all can combat what is done there, without interacting with the Void . . . so please, be safe, and I will see you all when you return."

And, just like that, there is a pull in your stomach . . . your vision blacks out and you feel the sudden sense of vertigo, a sensation of falling, and then . . . nothingness. You open your eyes, and you are suddenly waking up in the midst of . . . fog?


THE AWAKENING.
When you wake, you are greeted by metal — there’s an expanse of silver all around you. The cot you’re laying on is somewhat rigid, like a flattened wedge of cotton more than anything, encased in a capsule-like structure. Should you inspect your surroundings, you’ll find that there are three more cots in your room..or more notably, another person in the room in of itself. Depending on where you’ve been roused from your slumber, however, you’ll find that your circumstances differ.

➜ If you’ve woken up in the northeast wing of the ship, there seems to be a pool of saturated pink goo at your feet. It sticks to the bottom of your heel and collects at the very center of the room, oozing from the cracks and crevices within the metal lining of the walls. And even more notably, the goo has a particularly saccharine scent, as though it’s meant to be...consumed. Looks like you had the misfortune of waking up in the wing adjacent to the kitchen.

➜ In the northwest wing, the ship is functioning at an all time low. When you wake, the room is illuminated for a brief moment...before flickering out, only to leave you in pitch darkness. Power returns to the room intermittently and only for a few seconds at most, but it appears as though you and your newfound roommates will have to navigate the darkness if you want to leave.

➜ In the southwest wing, the fire alarm in your room has been activated for some inexplicable reason. It’s an obnoxiously loud siren that slices right through the whirring of the machinery around you — and it goes as far as to trigger the sprinklers hanging from the ceiling. Water sprays from above you, hopefully ensuring that you’ve woken up if nothing else has. It doesn’t seem to be draining either, so it may be for the best that you escape with some haste.

➜ In the southeast wing, your circumstances are for the most part rather unremarkable. An untouched room, mostly intact...until you try to open the door. It won’t budge — unless you have some form of super strength, your muscle power is rendered useless on its own. You might just have to commission someone else to help you...

Beyond your room, the word “Horologium.” stretches across the wall.

Welcome to your new home.




WHISPERS IN THE DARK.
In a way, it feels as though you’re suspended in time.

The ship is always humming, always whirring as it makes a haphazard attempt to function. The noise comes to a halt every so often, leaving you with nothing but silence and the idle creaking of the floor beneath you.

There are remarkably large, bright white doors that divide each and every wing. A circular window is positioned at the center of all 4 of these doors: but nothing can be seen through it. It’s likeness is that of a black hole’s, like someone had gone as far as to paint over it.

On every door, the same word is emblazoned in black lettering: EXIT.

Except the word itself appears to be scratched out to some degree — as though it were scrubbed out in a fit of desperation but remained no less.

When you see the door, you might be overcome with excitement. Or perhaps not. Regardless of what your reaction is like, the lights around you will dim and flicker at an alarming frequency. For a moment, it’s almost as though the gravity around you has slowed, and the hallways are becoming narrower by the second.. Voices and faces from the past emerge in your mind. You see someone you shouldn’t; they’re calling for you. They’re here with you right now, beckoning you to come closer...

If you reach the door and attempt to open it, it won’t budge. And the further you walk away from it, the more the effects will subside.

But there’s no telling if you’ll sleep well tonight.


INVESTIGATIONS
The ship is fitted to house approximately 500 people — it’s a bit of a ghost town, however, lived in but abandoned no less.

The chairs are in the mess hall aren’t aligned perfectly. The tables are a bit crooked. The lounge is lofty, but not pristine. The rooms may be barren, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that they were somehow someone else’s before they became yours. There’s an array of locked doors, varying in sizes and shapes, all of which withhold something potentially useful to you. You may be inclined to visit the lounge, the mess hall, rifle through the bedrooms . . . the ship is yours to explore.

However, how you interact with the ship is….entirely up to you. There is something to be found everywhere. Regardless of what you do, where you investigate and how, you might be tempted to look behind your shoulder.

After all, every decision you make matters...right?

(Every Player’s investigation prompt has the potential to differ greatly as your investigation will require mod input. We encourage you to ask as many questions as you would like, we are here to help and provide you with the information necessary.)

Additionally, please feel free to write up and work with your own prompts! These areas of the world are presented as jumping off points for your characters, not limitations. The idea of this world- as with all the others- is to explore -- you may use as much leeway as you want in order to come up with what your character will do.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask them back on the various threads back in the OOC post from before!
spaceforged: (pic#12502199)

[personal profile] spaceforged 2019-02-22 08:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Getting the ship up and running will do a lot. We might even get the access codes to doors and stop having to break them.

[His smile is wry as he looks to the side at Keith. The blade moves upwards with his guidance. Metal glows orange as the weapon heats it and passes through. Shiro motions Keith to take over.]

Move it up then we'll pass it down to the bottom of the seal. We should be able to force it up open once we have the sealed section cut off. This just reminds me how useful my arm is when it's at full power.
lonered: (s737)

[personal profile] lonered 2019-02-22 08:47 pm (UTC)(link)
As much fun as spending hours prying doors open is... that'd be pretty great.

[But hey, look at all they've accomplished by sheer determination and brute force. He watches as Shiro works the sword upwards before stepping in to take over the blade once more and leaning into it, working up still.]

Right. Sounds like a plan.

[He glances over at Shiro.] Yeah. That'd come in handy about now.

[A pause as he realizes what he just said, and he ducks his head with a groan.] Forget I said that.
spaceforged: (pic#12570289)

[personal profile] spaceforged 2019-02-23 07:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[He throws his head back and laughs. It's been a while since any joke like that has been tossed around. Shiro keeps grinning as he lightly pats Keith's back.]

I'll give you a paw instead. [His hand slides up Keith's back to rest briefly, intimately against the back of his neck. It's just them and he steps away entirely to study the cut in the door.]

We'll see how much power it has after we're through.
lonered: (s707)

[personal profile] lonered 2019-02-26 07:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[Shiro laughs and it's by far the best sound that Keith has heard in a while, especially aboard this ghost ship. It almost makes him feel better about stumbling into that terrible pun.

Then there's that touch -- simple as it is, it grounds something in him, and Keith glances back with a smile.]


I'll take a helping paw, any time.

[He turns back forward and leans into the sword. Still making progress.]

We're close.
spaceforged: (Black Lion: Brace)

[personal profile] spaceforged 2019-02-27 01:12 am (UTC)(link)
That's my queue, then.

[His body turns to purple light and reshapes into hard lines and thick metal. His yellow eyes flare with light as he parts his jaws. One shake confirms everything is in working order and settled right.

Shiro brushes his lion body up against Keith with a deep rumble of approval.]


Just say when you need to rip the door open.

[He sits at his side, eyes providing more light to see the edge of the door by.]
lonered: (11)

[personal profile] lonered 2019-02-27 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
{Keith is used to the transformation by now, but that doesn't mean he misses the opportunity to watch, even if he mostly just winds up squinting against the light of it. He turns his attention back to the sword and the door.

Another moment and he glances back at Shiro.]


Okay. I think we've got it. Take it down.

[Go ahead, Shiro. Keith draws the laser sword free and steps back.]
spaceforged: (Black lion: Delaying tactics)

[personal profile] spaceforged 2019-02-27 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[Shiro tears up and digs his claws into the cut. The heated metal is just soft enough he can force his claws through to the other side of the door. He braces himself and pulls with the strength of the lion.

His back feet dig into the floor as his machine body strains as the door moves a fraction of an inch at a time.]


How much power does the sword have now?
Edited 2019-02-27 21:03 (UTC)
lonered: (S6-19)

[personal profile] lonered 2019-03-01 02:35 am (UTC)(link)
[Keith steps back to watch his currently-mechanical boyfriend peel a metal door open. He glances at the sword, frowning.]

That took a lot out of it. Half? Maybe less. I wonder how long it takes to recharge.

[It will recharge, right?]
spaceforged: (Black Lion: Cutting through)

[personal profile] spaceforged 2019-03-02 06:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[He glances over his shoulder and the blaze of his eyes sweeps over the sword’s hilt. The solar panel they had both noticed makes him think it can recharge. Cleanly and efficiently. Shiro turns back to his work and shoves is massive body into the door way now that the hole is wide enough.

He wedges himself in and folds a wing towards the floor and fires his thruster. He’s nice and wedged in. His thruster acts more like a blowtorch and heats the metal back up. He twists and gets himself arranged so he can shove with all four of his feet. The door gives a tortured screech as it moves but only makes the usual grinding noises as Shiro moves about like a restless cat. He turns to brace himself against one edge as he puts all of his strength into having his way.

His opponent finally gives up on defeat. He changes back when he’s finished and grips his right bicep. The familiar blue wash of light is a welcome sight. He holds up his glowing hand and waits for Keith to be ready to cover him before he steps in.]
We’ll leave it in the light and see how long it takes the charge to return.
lonered: (s9)

[personal profile] lonered 2019-03-05 12:53 am (UTC)(link)
[Keith, admittedly, is a little impressed as the door yields. Well, Shiro is a force to be reckoned with, no matter what form he's in. But okay. The door is open now. Laser sword is tucked away and his mother's blade is in his hand, glowing faintly with its usual.

A quick nod.]
Good call. If we can keep recharging it, we might be able to take out a couple more closed doors in the next couple days.

[For now though. This room. Whenever you're ready, Shiro.]
spaceforged: (Cause I'm on your side)

[personal profile] spaceforged 2019-03-07 09:34 pm (UTC)(link)
It would be nice to cut investigation time down. [He's spent about half his days in his lion shape since they got here. Shiro steps carefully into the room, easing one foot in then the other to make as little noise as possible.

His activated arm casts a soft blue light over their surroundings. It looks like someone's quarters. The bed to one side catches his attention. He moves towards it and leaves space for Keith to follow. There are deep shadows on the bed that look too deep to be shadows.]


Hey, look at this.
lonered: (14)

[personal profile] lonered 2019-03-09 01:24 am (UTC)(link)
Agreed.

[Boy is it agreed. The longer they go without finding anything concrete. Keith follows closely after Shiro, ready for a threat to leap at them from the dark.

But that doesn't happen.

So instead he moves closer to see what Shiro is looking at.]
What've you found?