ercookies | TDM 006: SPECTRAL SPECTACLE

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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N A V I G A T I O N

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Hanzo has a way of being perceptive about things as though he's strategizing his next move well in advance. So the subtle inching toward his gun has Hanzo shifting the weight in his legs in case he needs to duck or tackle the man before he can get a shot off.]

I see. [A good amount of the intel he'd gathered was dated, so he's not surprised to hear that McCree may not be part of whatever Genji has a hand in now. He'll tuck that information away for later. For now all he's left to do is furrow his brows in bewilderment on the words coming out of the man's mouth.]

What? [He understands just fine, but Hanzo is close to considering this a translation error because it doesn't want to believe any of it.] You could not fuck me if I were the only person on this island, but what do you mean about the other thing? Up and running?

[Well, that does explain why half of everything doesn't seem to work, but not so much why any AI would select him to do any sort of restoration.] Why not just destroy the omnic that brought us here?

[ the comment about not fucking him if he was the only person on the island he has no objection to. it's a good thing they didn't arrive together, or this place would be a barren wasteland still.

but genji would have words for him if he left his brother to flounder here alone - though he hardly seems to be floundering, to be fair - so he heaves another sigh, reaching up to take the cigar out of his mouth and tap it to remove some ash. ]

Cause I dunno if you noticed, but the area around us is crap. It's the one givin' us food and restorin' the place. On top of that, whatever it's talkin' to us from sure as hell ain't it's core, and its little robot buddies pack a mean punch.

[ so it had tied its survival up into the humans, and had a decent defense besides. ]

Everything here wants to eat you, or it wants you to fuck. The robots fall into the latter category, thankfully. And when you do have some fun with someone, it gets you energy you can use to make things happen. Greenhouses, diners, cows, you name it.