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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. 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 |
no subject
(Short skirts and scanty clothes were another thing altogether, but that was neither here nor there. Time and place!) ]
You still got water in your ears? [ He gestured brusquely towards his ear, while staring somewhere to Harriet's left. ] I said, we're not on Remnant anymore. And let me tell you, the thing that brought us here isn't playing around.
no subject
Yeah, I heard you, but you said it wasn't a mission. So if it's not business, it's generally pleasure. That or the most inept prison that I've ever seen.
[Shorts and shirts back on she put a hand on her hip, catching his attention that he could look again.]
And just what brought us here then?
no subject
You know, other than yet another Ace Operative washing up on this intergalactic beach. ]
Well, I guess in a sense the purpose is pleasure, heh.
[ Qrow's laugh is dry, and his amusement is all cynicism. ]
What brought us here is a bunch of horny robots, that's what. Don't ask me how, that's beyond me.
no subject
Sounds pretty weird, sure it's not the person who built the robots? Or someone just taking control of them?
[Look after everything that happened lately with Watts and hacking everything in Atlas, drones, and robots were a bit hard to entirely trust. They were just a helpful tool, not something that you could really trust.]
Still sounds like a bad vacation though. Anything trying to kill us or attacking the people?
no subject
He regards Harriet with some suspicion, given how calmly she seems to be taking all of this... but hell. They all have different coping strategies, don't they? And he's always considered Atlas soldiers to be an especially odd and inhuman lot. ]
If something's controlling them, it's another robot. There was nothing organic when we got here, and I mean nothing. No people, no plants, not even a bug.
The 'bots are friendly, at least. They won't hurt you. Some of the monsters in the forest will, though.
no subject
If there was nothing organic when you got here, then where did the monsters and the forest come from? It's not like they just appear out of thin air.
no subject
[ Qrow turns to sweep an arm in the direction of the tents and shacks on the beach, and the forest and the city beyond - ]
Weren't here when we got here.
no subject
[Really it wasn't tracking.]
And they want us to burn off a little steam in order to what, build more? Until eventually we go back, or are we just stuck here now?
no subject
[ Qrow realizes he shouldn't default to impatience with the newly arrived, but it's different when it's someone he already knows. Moreso when it's someone who belongs to an organization that he's got some ongoing beef with.
But it's like he told James, when the man was still here: their only choice is to cooperate.
So he sighs, his hands going to his hips. ]
But yeah, that's the jist of it. And they haven't said a damn word about getting us home.
no subject
Doesn't sound that bad for those who don't have a job to do.
[But they did, and so Harriet would have to figure out which robot was in charge and just do a bit or percussive maintenance until it was time to go back.]
How long has it been anyways, since you showed up and there have been trees and everything?
no subject
Well, he's about to drop a time fuckery bomb so let's see how she handles that. ]
About five months. Clover's here too, and some of the kids. So was James, at the beginning, but he disappeared.
no subject
Good if Clovers here maybe I can actually get someone will be straight with me about the situation. It hasn't even been five weeks since since we arrested you the first time.
Have any evidence to prove it? A broadcast, log, something?
no subject
[ Qrow fought the urge to roll his eyes. What was it with soldiers just accepting whatever they're told? He knew, however, that behaving like a brat wouldn't be productive to the overarching goal of maintaining the peace on this island. The kids were already tense enough around Clover. Qrow didn't want to contribute to the discord by being petulant around Harriet.
And would Clover be unhappy with him, if Qrow gave her grief? That he didn't know.
He scowled a little at 'the first time,' but he pulled up the network posts on his bracelet device to show her how far back they spanned. With no formal calendar on the island, the time was counted only in the days since each message had been posted - but there were definitely more days than could be accounted for by the time that had passed in Remnant alone. ]
no subject
Huh, what do you know, you're not making it up. Guess you weren't getting the job done, so they had to call in backup.
So where's Clover?
no subject
He's at home.
[ As in, their home. ]
Can take you there, if you want.
no subject
[She sees that cagey expression and rolls her eyes a bit. This was going to be fun to watch, a grown huntsman acting like a nervous teenager with a crush.]
How's your luck coming lately?
no subject
But none of that was Harriet's business, so Qrow didn't expand. He only shoved his hands into his pockets and, as requested, began leading the way. ]
You can stay as long as you need. I'm sure Clove wouldn't mind it.
[ Her little jab was unfortunately enough to elicit a flinch and an audible grumble from him. Don't take the bait, Qrow. ]
Better lately, thanks to your captain.
[ A lie - their Semblances didn't exactly work like that. But that wasn't any of Harriet's business, either. ]
no subject
[ Clover rounds behind Qrow in an instant,
Just as soon as Qrow was going to try and make peace, Clover was going to just show up. He was happy that Hare was here, but he weighing her against James. Against their team, against Qrow. His stare narrowed.
Clover reaches for Kingfisher, just in case. ]
Hare, let go.
no subject
I don't have my hands on anything yet.
[Though the hostility from someone that was supposed to be an ally did make her clench her fists. As she clenched her teeth for a moment, did he really just choose to side with that guy over one of his own.]
Guess this means I can't trust you to have my back. Can't trust anyone anymore I guess. But this explains what happened though.
[Friends, heh. Maybe it was just a joke, one little boy toy and Clover was ready to attack. Fine then.]
If you were going to use that you should have done it before I knew you were coming.
no subject
[ Qrow's hands went up in a placating gesture, so similar to the scene that unfolded on the airship just before everything went to hell. It felt similar. Tensions were high, but they were all on the same side - no one here wanted to fight. Right? At least, Qrow hoped as much.
He'd expected the kids to be jumpy, but to have this coming from Clover of all people? Qrow looked at the other man askance for a split second before he let his gaze shift warily between the two of them. ]
This isn't the time or the place, all right? I was just showing - [ thank gods Clover had reminded him of her name, at least ] - Harriet here to the house, get her sorted out.