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

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.]

[ All right, he’s still surprised. He expected Connor to do some kind of robot thing not… not this. He just stares, and honestly has to resist the urge to reach down and pat Connor on the head. He’s still Connor! That would be weird. ]

I’ll be… You can turn into a dog?

[ Obviously. ]

Is this your power?

[ Androids… probably do not come with canine shapeshifting as a built-in feature. ]

[Well, like this, he can't respond. Not in his normal way; but a dog possesses its own set of body language, and Connor's tail wags a little. He gives a short 'ruff' up at Arenvald, taking a step closer.

He has the right of it, at least.]

[ What the heck this is so cute.

Wait, no. It’s still Connor. Adorable canine he may be, it’s still his friend in there, and he will steadfastly resist the desire to scratch behind his ears. ]

Er, right. Let’s just go with one bark for yes, two barks for no. Think you can follow the trail like that?

[He's not sure how he'd react if Arenvald reached down to pet him. The thought isn't even crossing his mind, honestly, and so he just barks once, more heartfelt this time.

It's odd. A dog's body might be something he isn't accustomed to, and yet it still feels like his body. Not like he's some stranger operating a machine with a set of controls he's unfamiliar with. It's simply him, and he has no doubt it's simply a benefit of this strange new ability of his.

So it's with relative ease that he pads over to the spot of oil on the ground, sniffing at it eagerly. This particular breed has a strong sense of smell, even for a dog, bred for hunting -- only a moment later and Connor catches a similar scent on the air.

However, a labrador retriever is also a high-energy dog, and without much warning (he assumes, logically, that Arenvald will follow), Connor darts off along the sidewalk.]

[ Connor may well find out one day, because Arenvald might not be able to refrain forever. But at least right now, they have a job to distract them. Connor bends down to sniff at the spot of oil – thankfully he doesn’t lick it this time – and he must catch the scent because he’s off like a shot.

Arenvald blinks once, grins, and breathes out a fond, ]

Oh boy.

[ Before he takes off after the canine form of his friend. He remains a bit behind, hard to keep pace with a dog, but never so far that he loses him completely. ]

[Through the crowd they go, weaving in and out, which is easy enough for Connor. No one seems to mind the dog and the man following behind, and the scent takes him further down the street, turning a corner.

It continues, sure to taper off sooner rather than later, but something else catches Connor's attention and he stops suddenly, sniffing at the air.]

[ It’s a good thing Arenvald lags behind a bit, else he would have bowled Connor straight over. As it is, he comes up a bit short, trying to catch his breath as he slows to a stop. ]

What have you got?

[ Wait, that’s not a yes or no question. ]

Is something wrong?

[No, nothing wrong, not exactly. Arenvald gets two barks to confirm this, complete with a wag of the tail that isn’t quite as purposefully controlled.

There’s the scent of something else familiar — the smell of that oil, lingering with the smell of coolant, the strange waft of... steel that only a dog might truly recognize. Around a corner they go, but the way is barred by a small, latched gate, not even that tall.

But alas, Connor has no hands like this. He paws at the gate, which can be opened easily enough by Arenvald if he just unlatches it and swings it open.

Whine. Help?]

[ All right, nothing wrong, but they seem to be diverging a bit. Whatever Connor has found, Arenvald will assume it is of import and follows along.

Ah, the mighty android, bested by a gate. That little whine is as funny to him as it is endearing, and he chuckles as he catches up. ]

Don’t fret, I’m right here. I suppose it’s good one of us still has thumbs, right?

[ He flips open the latch, swinging the gate wide to allow Connor to pass. ]

[He'd reply to that if he could. Give an utterance of thanks, but the best he can do at the moment is just give a very dog-like noise, not quite a whine this time.

The gate now open, he walks through. Connor doesn't even have to keep his nose to the ground this time; instead, it's easy enough to see a few telltale scrape marks along the way, as if something was dragged along the ground.

They don't have to follow this trail for long. One more corner turn, and down an alleyway they go, and finally -- next to what appears to be an oversized recycling receptor -- is a shipping container with a red logo printed neatly on one of its sides.

Connor barks at it.]

[ Arenvald steps up beside his temporarily furry friend, eyes immediately drawn to the red logo on the side of the container. Aha! ]

Is this what we're after, then?

[He doesn’t bark this time. There’s only another bright flash of blue, and suddenly Connor is Connor-shaped again, standing before Arenvald and next to the container.]

This-

[Ah. He forgets how disorienting changing back can be, and leans a hand against the alleyway wall. It’s like undergoing a small soft restart, running in the background, as he speaks. But he’s fine just a second later, straightening again.]

This is it. It must’ve initially been lost somewhere along the street, and was moved aside by either a concerned or annoyed citizen that wanted it out of the way.

[ He reaches out a hand to steady Connor once he changes back and seems to need a moment to regain his bearings. The shift in perspective is probably disorienting. ]

Good on you for finding, then. I don’t think we’d have managed the normal way. If it’s still in one piece, then all we have left to do is get it to where it belongs, right?

[He blinks at the touch, but doesn't discourage it. Connor just stands there, now steady, and gestures at the no-longer missing parts.]

That's right. I can call for a transport, but we should probably move it out of alleyway for now.

Sounds like a plan to me.

[ Time to go over and see if he can… pick it up. ]

[The weight of the container isn’t insubstantial, but it is reasonably carried by someone with above average strength. Still, Connor steps forward and offers-]

I can assist you, if you like.

[Connor doesn’t look like... anything special in the strength department, but he’s at least stronger than he looks!]

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WHY

WELL DID HE???

HANK'S NOT HERE 8(

BECAUSE HE FELL IN THE WELL

STOP