TDM 006: SPECTRAL SPECTACLE

[erkumods]

TDM 006: SPECTRAL SPECTACLE

00. Arrival This time, you come out of the water, the Nameless Island's own inherent energy drawing people in. It's like being suspended between realities and abruptly pushed from behind through a rift in dimensions. It may make you sick, or that might be the motion of the ocean, lifting you to the surface and carrying you to shore. Waterlogged and covered in sand, new arrivals will be greeted by robots who welcome them with towels and bracelet devices. The A5 card is already loaded up. Feel free to explore the Island, though there isn’t much to see. Most of the buildings are abandoned and in dire need of repair, and beyond the city lingers a thick fog that obscures much of the wilderness from view. Wander too far into this fog, and you will find yourself mysteriously looping back to where you began, your memories of what you were doing and how you got there erased. With that in mind, it may be wise to stake your claim on a rundown apartment, a tent on the beach, or a bed in the “comfortable” new barracks. Your inventory will be found a day later, wrapped up haphazardly and delivered to each person's makeshift home. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● I. The Dragon's Matchmaking Welcome to the Island, cherub dragons! The auspicious actions of your fellow Islanders have foreseen the reintroduction of dragons to the world. Unlike the hulking, possessive creatures of ancient lore (and recent hot springs), these well-meaning little critters love to help. Their small size and roly-poly frames make them unsuited to laborious tasks, but they will be the perfect companion to any residents who endeavor to pick up a small item, wish for their lunch to be delivered to an absolute stranger, or need a fire started from a tiny, flaming sneeze in their drafty homes. If a cherub dragon sees an Islander they perceive in need of their assistance, they will zip right in and refuse to scram until they’ve done the job! No visible struggles? No problem! The little dragons also love to play matchmaker. Persistent dragons will gleefully nudge together Islanders they believe will have chemistry, and sometimes they aren’t wrong! Of course, even if sparks fail to fly, the dragons’ trilling songs are known to kindle romantic feelings between strangers and long-time lovers alike. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● II. Ruins While the Islanders have been enjoying their autumn relaxation, the ‘bots of Erku have been hard at work clearing the surrounding forests of dangers for their guests’ safe habitation. If you are of deft hand with monster slaying, forestry, or even just hauling debris and weed picking, the robots will gladly exchange credits for help with reconstructing the recently unearthed mountain temple grounds from the rubble that remains there. Just follow the path of gently glowing mushrooms to the site of the temple ruins. Beware of lurking creatures, grabby plants, and falling rocks! The temple ruins are tall and breathtaking, despite the eerie chill of the fog that lingers just beyond. Or is it the fog that sends a shiver up your spine? After all, this place was very spiritually important to the original inhabitants of the Island, the robots say to anyone curious enough to ask. Although their own programming does not include religious worship, the Augur believes the restoration of this place to be vital to the continued augmentation of Eros energy. When questioned about the strange shadows that seem to slip from tree to tree, or the unsettling feeling of ghostly hands that seem to nudge volunteers deeper into the grounds, the robots respond with nothing but bafflement. Their sensors detect no unknown organic presence afoot. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● III. Ritual Islanders who chase those mysterious shadows may find themselves particularly drawn to a structure that lay deeper within the ruins, beyond where the robots have made the most progress. Three sets of crumbling, moss-covered stairs join to form a central platform, which - despite the overcast skies - seems to emit a soft glow. Those who step onto the platform may begin to hear a quiet, compelling voice, which urges them to be free of their inhibitions and to offer their energy to the spirits to be multiplied hundredfold. Visions of naked bodies in the throes of carnal worship dance before the eyes. Those who are especially spiritually sensitive - or perhaps, just lucky - may feel as if possessed by a consciousness that is not their own, and that consciousness is filled with a burning sexual desire. Leaving the platform is an option if alone, but the intense and overwhelming urge to seek companionship will persist until an Auspicious Act is completed. Those who are fortunate to be joined by company within the temple will feel compelled to worship right then and there, no matter the risk of being seen. Within the walls of the temple, Eros energy is enhanced such that any erotic act - big or small - will be enough to break the spell. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● N A V I G A T I O N

Comments

[yakiniku]

[The fear in Appolo's eyes is painfully obvious. Hanzo knows he's tempted to run, to give into the flight part of his natural response to tense situations, but he's not going to allow that. He rests a hand on Apollo's shoulder, squeezing hard enough to make it clear he's to remain seated as Hanzo takes the spot on the bench beside him.]

If everything is fine, why do you look as though you are ready to run? Have I done something to offend you? Do we know each other?

[He couldn't care less one way or another. If Apollo wasn't impressionable enough to remember, then he's not going to make the effort to rectify that now.] Or is there some other reason you find the need to keep tabs on me?

[justiceobjects]

N-No, there's no way we know each other. I think I'd remember that.

[Apollo is as still as a statue now, well aware that he'd have trouble breaking out of that grip. This city wasn't like LA; the population is so low he couldn't be sure that anyone would be close enough to hear him if he started yelling. This was a great place to murder someone in broad daylight.

Apollo summons up enough courage to make eye contact, though his voice is still a little squeaky.] I was just admiring your tattoo? That's some really ornate work. It's Japanese, right?

[Sure, it might be a little useful to keep his eyes on the guy, but right now Apollo wishes his special talent was lasers or guns like half the other people here, instead of just spotting lies really good.]

[yakiniku]

Then what is it?

[The eye contact is a good start, Hanzo can read him like a book and he loves it. The poor guy is trying to make up for something. Perhaps being scared. He looks down at his arm then back at Apollo, nodding.]

Yes. You're familiar? [Might as well make conversation if he's going to be this amusing interacting with him. It isn't as though he has anything of pressing importance to do at the moment anyway.]

I've never met an American so fussy about tattoos before. [In his time, these things are hardly an issue anymore. Sure the tattoos associated with criminal organizations still draw the same response but that's reasonable. It's no longer strange, though, to see Japanese people with tattoos anymore.]

[justiceobjects]

[They are from different worlds, not that Apollo's gotten enough clues to make that assumption yet. If anything, being in such close proximity to danger like this isn't making his fear worse - instead, he's eying Hanzo more suspiciously now, his jaw set stubbornly. Apollo always did his best work under pressure, and this was no different.]

I'm a defense attorney. We had the Kitaki family active in Los Angeles for a while, so you could say I'm familiar.

[Sure, Apollo could be mistaken, but he's not stupid. Most regular people didn't take being stared at as a good reason to act so intimidating. Even if he's wrong, the vibe that this man was dangerous is coming in loud and clear.]

So are those yakuza tattoos, or not?