acatalepsy_logs | World Jump #2: Struxta

World Jump #2: Struxta

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welcome to
the collected nations of struxta.

It will happen at random- you could be asleep, or wandering the Temple, or a variety of other options. It will feel a little strange, like a sudden warmth spreading across your skin, and then your bracelet will light up. When you blink again, everything has shifted - changed, developed, like in that blink of an eye you have advanced thousands of years into the future.

Around you is a city, a technological marvel. Buildings rise up from the dirt and through the clouds, figures of all shapes and sizes buzz around you. They seem to pay you little mind - a quick glance, maybe a pause, and then they will continue on their away. Ahead, there is a low rumble of thunder, a dim flash of light. It doesn't seem to be raining, but there is an electric hum in the air.

A NOTE FROM YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD WITCH

But before anything too weird can happen . . . your watch flashes again, beeps once, and on it has a new message, a hologram-sparkly image with a young woman who (to some individuals!) looks a fair bit brighter than she did a few weeks ago. To those who are new, you will recognize the voice -- Astoria, the guardian of the Temple (or, if you're a bit more pessimistic, your effervescent kidnapper).

"Hello, my beloved travelers ♥ and new ones, too! My name is Lady Astoria the Witchess-san." The way she says it, though, it is very clearly something of a joke. "I'm so glad you are settling in, adjusting to your new powers . . . I apologize for not coming forward and greeting you all like last time. But I am feeling much more like myself, and ready to send you to a new world ♥

This one is named Struxta . . . Struxa? No, I think it's Struxta. It's very metal. I'm not sure what's wrong in this world . . . but I can feel something building. Pulsing, it's very chaotic. I'm afraid I can't be more detailed than that, I did have a headache earlier . . . Akira told me I was fine ♥" And, again, you can likely guess that Akira definitely did no such thing. Astoria clasps her hands, her bright blue eyes shining, with a bright smile. "Now! Please be safe, and please mind your manners, and tell me all about it when you return! I'll see you soon. ♥"

And, just like that? The humming in the air grows louder, you feel an odd tug in your stomach, and before you can properly adjust yourself to the sensation of being cast across the universe . . . you find yourself in Struxta. (Astoria, it seems, did have it right the first time.)

THE HOSTEL

Just as it was in El Minha, it appears that upon arrival, each character is outfitted with a room at one of the largest, arguably most impressive skyscrapers in the city. Nearly two hundred stories tall, and with each floor containing nearly sixty rooms. Every floor, every room, every door is of the highest tech and the more advanced security. The watches that Astoria has given each of the Circle Members act, in many ways, like a key, a credit card, an ID, and any other form of identification the players will need during their stay.

The rooms themselves are simple - one bed, roughly full sized, with a light, a desk, a chair, and a variety of plugs and buttons. Characters are welcome, if they are able to find the appropriate plug, to charge any and all devices they may have. There is a TV of sorts in the room as well, with access to all manner of shows and news stations.

The bottom floor of the building is almost as large as a city block. It is open, sleek, and clean-cut. A kind of open meeting room, which has - upon inspection - been modified to include what appears to be a restaurant. Which, given the fact the group of Circle members who have arrived in the city are the only natural bodies around? Includes the fact you are the only members of the city who have to consume food and nutrients. Upon even closer inspection, the technology used to make the food seems a few decades behind that of the rest of the city, but it still works, and the food can still be produced. It might taste a little weird and turn out to be some sort of glorified goop, but it has some nutritional value.

The rest of the floor has a variety of seating arrangements and places to sit and chat with your other Circle members, but beyond the Welcome Committee, who is set up on the far northern corner, there doesn't seem to be many of the natives walking through.

THE SUPER CENTER

Have you ever wanted to go shopping in the most technologically advanced superstore possible? Here is your chance! It appears that if you use your watch, you have been given a moderate amount of credit to buy clothing, toys, electronics, items, and anything else that might suit your fancy. You will not have enough to buy anything significant, such as limbs, organs, advanced computer technology, etc. But you are more than welcome to find a job to help collected more credits! Many of the stores within the Supercenter are hiring - greeters, cashiers, manual labor, errand runners, and everything in between!

The Supercenter is attached, as most of the buildings seem to be in this city, by a roadway of interlocking bridges and stairways- to a point that you could, if you wanted to, move about the entire city without stepping foot outside. There are bridges on every level of the Supercenter, as well as a network of pathways and semi-roadways within the center itself.

There are no restaurants or bars, but there are plenty of areas to relax and ~~people~~ robot watch if you so desire. Otherwise, shop, explore, find weird mechanical devices of the likes you could never imagine back home. There are all manner of stores, some art galleries, music centers, arcades, and more here. There is no limit to what you can find and what you can experience.

Everything is automated, but there are still helpful employees of various appearances at each of the stories to help you decide and browse- small, flying blocks that speak in primarily beeping noises that (thanks to Astoria's wonderful watches) you can somehow understand, completely human-appearing androids of the utmost style and elegance, and everything in between. Take your time, do a little shopping or go to work, and enjoy the pique of futuristic capitalism.

THE RACES

In the south-eastern district of the city, a large section of the city has been modified into a multi-level, vast, complicated race track of sorts. Think Tron, meets Speed Racer, meets a type of racing that is something all their own. It's fun as hell, fast as hell, and dangerous as hell. Sounds great, right?

What is simply known as ‘Racing’ here in Struxta is complicated, but at its heart is exactly what it says: it is a race. A race of cars, bikes, and everything in between through an obstacle course of everything you can imagine. It seems to all be linked, electronically, to a motherboard that decides - each race - what the drivers will find. Each race was drastically different, with dangers galore. One day you might find that the road is full of spikes, the next it might be slick as oil, there could be loops that defy gravity and breaks in the road that seem to be impossible to cross, but that's what the modifications and specialists in the garages are for, right?

The rules are simple: if you have a vehicle, and you have a driver, you are allowed to race. First one to complete the track, wins.

Surrounding the main track is an entire industry of shops, stores, garages, meeting places, lounge areas, and viewing rooms. There are robots who make entire livings on the industry surrounding the Races, without ever having to step food onto the course. Some of the areas will be cleaner, like the rest of the city, while others may air on the side of back-house garages. While there won't be any dirt or natural life forms, for the first time you might catch sight of rusted metal, oil slicks, broken down previous versions of what's out on the road. There are some practice tracks, some experimental safety sections to test out new additions, etc.

The one thing that holds everyone together, here, is the excitement around watching. The excitement around the competition. There are Races every five days, so that gives you just enough to get settled. And maybe find a car.

THE LIBRARY

As many have already come to hear, there are plenty of libraries and museums all across Struxta. However, there is one that is known as The Library, which archives anything and everything in the history of all of Struxta, spanning back its entire history, over thousands and thousands of years. The building itself is as large and impressive as The Hostel, nearly two hundred stories tall, possibly more, and as wide and long as a city block. But where in the Hostel each floor had been made up of rooms, each of these floors are large, open areas, with dark, imposing servers held behind tight, clean cabinets.

No one else seems to be here, which gives the impression that The Library is not open to just any native of Struxta, and that in fact - as members of the Circle you are being given special access to what would normally be off-limits.

In the middle of each floor, there is a small collection of tables, with large screens. These touch-screens will be your access into the Library archives. And that is the thing - you will have access to everything, but as it turns out, everything really means everything, and with backups spanning the course of thousands of years in the past, it will take a lot of time and a lot of energy and a lot of research determination to find anything of use. Not because it is difficult, just because it is so massive and so overwhelming.

The only natives you will find will be on the first floor, as a kind of secretarial position for the building. They are more than happy to try and help guide you through the search process, but they will not follow you up to any of the other floors, and there is a distinct feeling of being entirely alone when you do go up to begin your search. Alone, but watched, somehow.

Remember- if there is something that you wish to look up specifically, please ask over on the world interactions post so we can be sure that the correct information is shared! The best way to go about finding something in the Library will be going at search terms in teams, as there is so much information there is no way one person will be able to wade through it all.

Additionally, please feel free to write up and work with your own prompts! These are presented as jumping off points for your characters, not limitations. The idea of this world- as with all the others- is to explore. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask them back on the mod questions thread back in the OOC post from before! And if you have any ideas regarding how your character will interact with the world, also feel free to check back into the world interactions comment from the OOC post from before, as well!

From this point forward, the Circle has become involved with the Collected Nations of Struxta. What your character finds out, decides, and does from here on out will affect the future of this city- one way or another! But what you do is completely up to you. What you discover, explore, and uncover will be yours to discover, explore, and uncover. Who knows what you might find? :)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The swell of relief that he spots on Arenvald’s features is indicative of something like anxiety or stress being experienced prior to Connor’s greeting. But he’s quick to rationalize that it makes sense; this world is probably utterly confusing for the man, who apparently comes from a home where magic is more dominant than any truly advanced form of tech.

Connor schools his face to be friendly, so as to be more reassuring. And yet there is still a dogged look of determination in his eyes — when assigned a task, he tends to latch onto it, tooth and nail. Even if it’s nothing more than finding lost goods. Not exactly the most glorifying investigation he’s been tasked with.]

Eventually, the route ends at a large warehouse just north of here. But the point of my trek is to locate something along the way.

[But more on that later. First:]

Are you all right? You look very lost.

[ Arenvald has seen that sort of determination on the face of many an adventurer, and he takes some small bit of comfort in the sheer familiarity of it. A good old-fashioned quest, even a menial one, might help to set him right, at least a bit. ]

I am absolutely bloody lost. Look at this place! It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen! I feel like my eyes are like to fall out of my head from all the staring I’ve been doing.

Right. This place must be very different than what you're at all used to.

[A moment while his LED flickers at his temple, indicative of him considering something. He can spare a few extra minutes for this, he believes.]

Do you have any pressing questions that you'd like for me to answer? Specifically regarding this world? Maybe I can help you.

[ Every time that light on Connor’s head flashes, it only serves to remind him that it’s there, and it draws his eyes for a moment. As best he can figure, blue is the most common, so it’s probably good. No idea about anything else, though.

Arenvald only sighs, shrugging helplessly. ]

I appreciate the offer, truly, but I have a feeling anything you could tell me would go right over my head, regardless. I’d just appreciate some company, so I’m not wandering through all this mess by myself.

[He's noted that his LED seems to draw the attentions of Arenvald. More than once he's wondered if he should go into detail regarding just how it works, and what the colors signify, but currently, they've other matters to attend to. Maybe later.]

I'd appreciate the company, too. So it works out for the both of us regardless.

[A small gesture for Arenvald to follow. He moves with an even tempo, each step purposefully placed in front of the other, as they head down a particularly busy sidewalk.]

I suppose I should explain what I'm doing. I was hired on to investigate the disappearance of missing items.

[That is to say, find stuff that fell off a truck. This is some level 1 sidequest nonsense, honestly.]

[ If Connor doesn’t offer to explain, Arenvald might ask later, but for now it’s not especially relevant.

Connor begins moving forward, and Arenvald follows along, lagging a little behind whenever the crowd gets to be too thick – Connor seems to know where he’s going after all – but he’s always quick to rejoin his friend whenever that happens. ]

You were hired, were you? Look at you, working hard already.

[ He chuckles a bit. ]

I don’t mind helping out – free of charge, even.

[Connor gives him a smile.]

Yes, hired. I have to work to earn money, after all. Even if this is simpler work than what I’m used to.

[And even though Arenvald mentions helping free of charge, you really think Connor won’t offer something for his help? You are wrong, sir.]

And I can reimburse you for helping me. It’s only fair. You’ll have money to spend on something you may find useful.

I can take my own odd jobs, it's all right. I used to be an adventurer before I joined up with the Scions, so I did this sort of thing all the time.

[ IS IT TIME FOR A NICE-OFF. ]

[YOU CAN'T BE MORE POLITE THAN CONNOR]

You just told me that you were very lost. You're going to take up odd jobs in a world that consistently disorients or confuses you in a number of ways?

[He shakes his head, though there is a small flicker of amusement veiled in his features.] At least consider this a job shared together. That way I can act as a temporary guide.

[Down the street they go, but at least the crowd tapers off to be less thick as they continue onwards.]

I have to learn eventually, don’t I?

[ Said with a mild laugh. Getting lost probably builds character, or something, but he does have to admit that having Connor around to help makes him feel much better. YOU WIN THIS ONE, BUDDY. ]

Fine, fine. Have it your way. But I will pay you back.

The next world we find ourselves in, I'll let you do that.

[But not this one, friend.

But at any rate, he supposes they should focus on the matter at hand.]

If you see anything strange, what looks like the remnants of a pallet, or fallen components that are in odd places, let me know.

I’ll do my best. What sort of things are we looking for, exactly?

[ Not that he can tell much of anything apart in this place. He probably won’t be much help until it comes time to carry something heavy, sorry Connor. ]

[It's fine, he can do the heavy lifting where Connor cannot.]

It's a circular component made to fit a certain model of android in this city. It regulates their cooling system so that they don't overheat, if I'm to understand correctly. But I assume it'll be easier to spot the manufacturer's logo on the containers, instead.

Look for a logo resembling a red polyhedron.

[Does that...help?]

I feel like I need a dictionary whenever I hang around you.

[ Him an Alphinaud both, but it’s probably thanks to his association with Alphinaud that he even knows the word “polyhedron”. Though, to him, it still sounds like some sort of multi-headed lizard monster one would find lurking in a cave somewhere. ]

But I think I’ve got it well enough.

[ And away they go, with Arenvald doing his best to keep his eyes peeled for said red logo. ]

What do you make of this place so far?

I don't think you give yourself enough credit.

[Connor keeps an eye out, too, the best he can. He's an observant android by his very nature, but crime scenes were very different than a landscape full of moving individuals, everything active and shifting all at once.]

It's both amazing and unnerving. To see that machines have taken over the whole of a world, one can't help but wonder what's happened to organic life.

Aye, I've had that thought, too. Not that I've asked, though. Have you?

[ Oh, is that it?? No, just a bit of rust on something. Moving on. ]

I have. Many times. Both the natives and the Welcoming Committee have not been very informative.

[But is that surprising? That Connor, an android made to question and investigate, has already started questioning and investigating?

He opens his mouth to say something else, but there seems to be a small spot on the ground before them, near the sidewalk, that catches his attention. He steps near, and there's a small puddle of almost-iridescent, slick oil.]

The truck transporting the shipment was due for repairs the same day. An oil leak, apparently.

[Of course, it makes sense that it would've gone this way, given that it was its route. But if it's the same, at least it means they're adhering closely to the path it actually physically took.]

Mm. I wonder if they just don’t know, or if they’re purposefully not telling.

[ Things like “function” and “purpose” as Connor sees them are still very… strange to Arenvald, but given that they are supposedly here to help, he would not be surprised to learn that many of the members of the Circle have been asking questions. ]

Well, at least we know we’re on the right track. We’ll keep to the trail then.

If they’re not telling us everything, then that would constitute a mystery worth pursuing. For now, it’s too early to say.

[But with that, he presses his finger against the little spot of oil, bringing it up to look at it, stained against false skin.

And then, out of habit and experimentation, maybe, he presses said finger to his tongue.

he blep]

Uh… did you just lick that?

[ Is that an android thing? Do they eat oil as like a snack or…??? ]

[As expected, no analyzation comes up. No information regarding whether or not this is the same truck, and they’re on the right trail. Just a spot of oil on his tongue and finger, and Connor frowns. ]

I took a sample.

[He looks up at Arenvald.]

But as I should have expected, this function remains deactivated.

You took a sample. With your tongue.

[ Why is this his life now. ]

If it’s not working, mayhap you shouldn’t go around licking whatever you find on the street. There’s got to be another way to track this truck.

Yes.

[He definitely did take a sample with his tongue.

But his friend is right; this solution obviously isn't a solution at all, not when this function of Connor's remains deactivated. Yet if one of his "senses" refuses to cooperate, then why not rely on another one?]

There is another way. Though I should warn you, it's very... surprising at first.

I just watched you put oil in your mouth. Rest assured, you’ve already surprised me.

[ This, with a hand motion at said oil. ]

Go ahead and do whatever you need to do.

[Connor looks at Arenvald for a moment, considering saying that there's a stark difference between taking a sample of oil and utilizing his new ability. But he decides to trust him, to take him at his word.]

All right.

[He won't even bother standing up. There was little point, really, and so Connor remains still for one second, two, three-

A flash of blue envelops him, bursting along his silhouette, growing brighter until it just... stops. And when the light disappears, Connor seems to have gone, as well. In his place is a labrador retriever, standing there on all fours, looking up at Arenvald expectantly. A blue LED flickers at his temple, but otherwise, he looks like a perfectly normal dog.]

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