ercookies | TDM017: SYSTEMS UPGRADE

Entry tags:

!tdm

TDM017: SYSTEMS UPGRADE

Updating environmental system to version 2.69...

When you blink your eyes open, it is to the glare of blinding overhead lights and the sight of a pair of glassy mechanical eyes boring into your own. The face above yours moves like liquid mercury, forming an approximation of a figure that you recognize and trust implicitly: a friend, a loved one, a caretaker. Perhaps even a god or a goddess. From its lips fall the patterns of a language that is strange and robotic, and yet familiar to you:

Everything is fine.

Welcome to the ̶͓̃N̵̼̈ă̷͙m̴̝͋e̵͕͐l̴͔̋e̷̦͘š̴͙s̵̬̚ ̵̝͌I̴͙͐s̵͖̄l̷̞̓à̴͖n̷̺̏d̵̮͠.̶̼̊<

Darkness overtakes you once again. In the blackness of your dreamless sleep, you are sure you hear a strange chime. You are conscious of a choice:

Yes

Y̶o̶u̶ ̸h̵a̸v̸e̵ ̸c̷h̸o̶s̵e̵n̷ ̶w̶i̶s̵e̴l̷y̸.̷

The Augur thanks you for your loyalty.

I. Orientation

With your support, the Nameless Island will thrive and prosper -- but it may require a little more energy than usual to sustain. Step outside and you will soon see why: the skies are calm, the seas are clear and blue, and the pink sands of the beach have never looked more inviting.

Rome wasn't built in a day, but a facsimile of it certainly was. Enjoy new facades for all of the structures in the Nameless City - everything has been retooled, renewed, and restored to be sleek, shiny, and the absolute height of high tech, eco-friendly luxury, with lush greenery and futuristic architecture blending together seamlessly. You have been transported from the hospital directly to your new residence in either the Apartments or in the House of Worship, sparsely furnished with all the basics and some of your belongings. A friend, partner, or stranger may be there with you. This may be your roommate, but this place isn't hurting for space. No robot will stop them from selecting their own room if they wish.

The Augur calls everyone to the Loudinus Amphitheater, an outdoor stage nestled among the tropical foliage where 'bots put on a play about the purpose of the island, the Auspicious Acts, and the history of the past year, including the all-too-recent attack on the Augur. The robot sex scenes are numerous and explicit, and you may find yourself watching a horribly butchered version of any of your old encounters.

Pick up a free Playbook, a comprehensive list of the dramatis personae with detailed character profiles, and learn a thing or two about your fellow Islanders. No detail is too trivial!

(This play will be streamed to all devices to be viewed remotely, and a digital download of the Playbook is also available.)

II. With Great Power

As a boon for taking on guardianship of the land, characters will find themselves sublimating into the purest form of themselves, embodying a particular trait, quality, or concept to the point where they might as well be revered as its new lawful ruler. That's right: you've become as gods, right down to the development of unique magic powers OR changes to your form which reflect the very core of your being. Enjoy being able to create water, fly with your brand new wings, or even summon geese... among other things.

Of course, with semi-phenomenal, nearly-cosmic power comes semi-phenomenal, nearly-cosmic responsibility! After each expenditure of your new powers, you find yourself becoming weaker, hungrier -- but what you're craving isn't food or rest, it's eros energy. The more outrageous your power or transformation, the more your body will crave the completion of an Auspicious Act. Those who do not gather Eros Energy will be driven mad by this lust, until they begin to lose touch with their sense of self - perhaps even some of their most defining memories.

If the burden proves too great, these powers or changes may be wished away with a request to the Augur and the exchange of one Act.

You have chosen to exist away from the Augur's wisdom and b̷e̴n̸e̵v̵o̵l̶e̴n̵c̴e̸.

Please accept your gracious punishment. Have a p̴l̷e̷a̵s̴a̸n̷t̵ day!

III. Dis-Orientation

You awake outside of city limits, out of sight and out of mind, but with the looming sight of the bright and shiny Nameless City always on the horizon. What surrounds you is not luxury, but instead drab, run-down buildings and despair. Your orientation, an extravagant and sexually explicit play which describes the purpose and recent history of the Island, is remotely streamed to your device. Watch it if you wish. Meanwhile, there are a few 'bots to be seen among the rubble and rundown buildings that surround you -- but are they friend or foe? Ask them questions about what has happened to you, and they will be vague and evasive. You're inside a simulation, they say, and this is all very temporary while the Augur's systems update.

They do have one answer for you: if you want into the Nameless City before that time comes, it will cost you an Auspicious Act... and a visit to the Augur. The 'bots will escort you there, if you wish.

These robots are a far cry from the well-oiled machines of the Nameless City, though they're no less helpful. In a rundown shack, a robot bartender dispenses rations and bootleg moonshine. (You can even check out the bathtub it's brewed in!) The liquor is definitely real, and it can definitely strip the rust right off the robots. Whether it's fit for human consumption remains to be seen. Regardless, it's going to give you the night of your life - drinking the stuff may cause a variety of effects, from normal intoxication, to erections lasting more than four hours, to wild hallucinations.

IV. It's Morphin' Time

Later, the rogue robots bring some scavenged technology: small, pink globes with "PROJECT DAEMON" etched on the side. These globes bond to specific individuals and morph into different creatures based on the emotions that those individuals exhibit: someone feeling brave might find themselves with a bright, roaring lion, while someone scared may find themselves pocketing a small mouse. A singer may find themselves warbling alongside a siren.

They shift often and at will, and they are here to help you survive in this landscape. Need someone to help you catch fish, gather firewood, or find you a partner to complete that Auspicious Act? This little critter has your back!

These creatures can communicate with everyone in simple language, but you'll soon realize they're not just voicing their own thoughts, but the thoughts of the person they've bonded with.

These are temporary creatures who will run out of power by the end of the month, though they can be resurrected with rewards at a later date.

Continue

V. The Doctor's Back In

All of this must be a lot for Islanders to take in and process. A lot of new information, new feelings, and new surroundings to become acquainted with. But they should know they are not alone here. Dr D. Love is still as present as ever to help anyone who may need to work through accepting their new situation. He and his helpers might even be rather insistent on you having a session!

Whether you're in the city or out of it, you may suddenly awaken to find yourself sitting in a comfortable chair in the doctor’s newly remodeled office that is tastefully decorated with finely detailed, “hand” painted posters of beings in positions of pleasure. So many positions. Or you may find yourself in the Immersion Room, an equally tastefully decorated room filled with a large, comfortable bed (perfect for group therapy sessions!) and shelves full of toys and other supplies. For the duration of your session, enjoy access to anything one might need to help relieve the stress of their body and mind on their own - or with a partner, who might have been brought here just as unwittingly as you were.

The Doctor is there to help you work through your feelings and discomfort if needed, please have no fear. He knows some of you may be resistant to his help, but he’s as cheerful and devoted as ever, to the point of not letting you leave the building until you’ve admitted to whatever feelings you are holding back - not just to him, but also to your therapy buddy. What's the diagnosis? The fact is, you must not be receiving enough pleasure. You are too tense, you need to relax and allow yourself to embrace the carnal nature of this world and what it can provide you.

The more you resist, the more the Doctor shall insist. He may even choose to activate your Neural Implant, which all Islanders have been gifted with upon arrival. Said neural implant may cause immediate arousal, sexual attraction to those near you, and even turn various parts of your body into extreme erogenous zones! Once activated, the Implant's effects may kick in at the most random of times.

The Doctor knew all you needed was the right motivation.

OOC Notes:

Welcome to the updated Erku! As this is a setting shift and a re-launch of sorts, this TDM is open to top-levels from both current and prospective players. Feel free to tag around with reckless abandon, and have fun!

Whether you are new or old, it is entirely up to you as to whether your character wakes up in the Nameless City or in the ruinous world of the Simulation. Even characters who acted to attack in the Augur in Event 16 may wake up in the City and vice-versa, according to player preference. This simulation is a temporary run and will last for about two weeks (in other words, the duration of the TDM), at which point all characters will wake in their new Nameless City apartments. Even if you choose "No", you may future-date prompts for the City for this time period.

For now, previously requested safe havens and residences are not currently accessible. They will be made available again in following Simulations, but 'bots are inclined to leave characters in mystery and suspense about this!

Feel free to ask questions below.

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N A V I G A T I O N

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

existing player
gen OTA; smut OTA 18+
A5 | permissions

1. Dis-Orientation

Continue?
Yes / No

Continue? Here in this disgusting place with no care for anyone's privacy or free will, where he has no purpose? Continue in this place that killed his king and keeps him separated from his home and his best friend? What point is there to Felix Fraldarius in a world that doesn't have Dimitri or Sylvain in it?

Continue without them?

No.

But when Felix comes back to awareness, it's still not Fodlan he sees. He's still in this damnable place, and now he's alone. But everything is different, and the robots are even less help than usual. The only thing he cares about right now is finding Dimitri...whether dead or alive. He demands to know how to get to the hospital from here. They tell him he'll have to go back to the Nameless City, and they tell him what's required to pass from here to there.

Of course. Of fucking course.

So Felix stalks the broken streets of the ruined city outskirts looking for someone who will help him fulfill a square and hopefully not ask too many questions. He's in no mood to talk. He doesn't want anyone's pity or condolences; he doesn't even want a fight. He just wants to get back into the city. Find him anywhere for a relatively normal encounter.

If it takes too long to find someone, he'll have little choice but to go into the rundown tavern and get something to eat and drink. For once, he barely even cares if it's laced - that might even help him find a partner for a square. He hates how desperate this place has made him to do these things. He hates that he's actively trying to fill out the stupid card of his own volition, and he hates the boar for pulling a stunt like that and making him have to go through all this looking for him now.

(Except that's a lie. He doesn't hate Dimitri, and never actually did.)

Find him at the moonshine shack for a wilder encounter. [Feel free to choose drink effects; I'll go with whatever!]

2. The Doctor's Back In (Feelings Jam)

Felix has never heard of therapy before, nor does he have any desire to attend it once the automaton claiming to be some kind of doctor explains it. Literally nothing, he tells the robot, about his life is any of its business. He threatens it a few times. He tries explaining that he's fine - he found his king, who's alive by the way, so everything's great, get out of his way. The doctor refuses.

Eventually it says it will have to call in someone else to talk to Felix, since he doesn't seem to want to talk to it. Felix tells it he's going to just leave instead.

And that argument is how he finds himself locked in the doctor's office. No amount of pounding on the door or yelling gets the robot to let him out, but after a few minutes, another islander appears in the room with him. Possibly right in the middle of his yelling.

3. The Doctor's Back In (Neural Implant)

If there's one thing Felix is really good at, it's refusing to do something out of stubborn spite. His talents are on full display here in the Immersion Room, where the so-called 'doctor' has told him he's not allowed to leave until he 'relaxes,' which is apparently defined as having an orgasm now, who knew? The doctor offers to help, or send an assistant to help, or let him use anything in the room to make it happen, but Felix refuses all of it. He only wants to leave and he's not going to...perform for this automaton's amusement.

Finally, the robot tells him it has no choice but to activate his Neural Implant. Felix has absolutely no idea what that means, but once someone else is transported into this room with him, he'll quickly find out...

4. Wildcard!

[I'm up for whatever! if you want to plot something specific, hit me up on plurk at

thessjuli

Claustrophobic much?

[The dry, dead tone matches the equally dry, dead expression on Abigail's face, already perched on the fuchsia, heart shaped beanbag that deflates gently under her weight. She would go through the jars of the edible body lotions, but she has a feeling they come pre-owned and pre-used.

She's used to Edemame's display of histrionics, she likes to think she's immune to this by now.]

If you're set on breaking your knuckles, at least tuck your thumbs in so you can dislocate them, too.

What?

[He snaps the word, turning quickly as one hand moves to the hilt of his sword. He barely relaxes upon seeing that it's just...some woman sitting on a ridiculous cushion.]

What I do is none of your business. Go away.

Can't. You're blocking the only exit.

[The very locked, very secured exit. Pointing another obvious fact out to a rather irate person wouldn't be so productive, however. She shifts on her perch, twisting her legs so they're crossed at the ankle, leaning back precariously on the sack of artificial beans.]

You should know by now they expect you to fulfill one end of a contract here to be released.

Then leave me alone.

[He makes a frustrated, disgusted noise and gives the door one last kick for good measure.]

Obviously I know that. But I’m sick and tired of doing things their way.

Lioriley had no idea when or how she arrived in the immersion room. But what she did know was that being transported to random places on the island was getting very old very fast, to the point that even her seemingly endless patience was being tested.

"What is all this?" She asked aloud, turning to see the doctor, who would promptly inform her that her friend here needed some assistance, and that, honestly, she could probably use a little stress relief too. They were both so tense, it couldn't be good for either of them. Lioriley cocked her head and looked to the mentioned 'friend', surprise causing her eyes to widen. Wasn't that — "Felix?" right? The one she had dreamed about? He was real?

Awkward.

"Don't drag other people into this--ugh." The automaton ignores him, of course, and he shakes his head. He turns to tell this other person that everything the robot says is bullshit, but blinks when he sees who it is and hears her say his name.

"You. I remember you. L...Laura, right? I thought you were a false memory, not a real person."

At least she's not naked anymore. Unfortunately, the dress she's wearing might be worse for purposes of not suddenly thinking about whether those glowy lines on her skin feel warm to the touch--

Wait, what? What? Who cares, the point is they should be trying to get out of here. So why does he suddenly feel way too hot and why do his eyes keep wanting to follow her curves all the way from her feet to her chest?

He very deliberately turns away from her to level a scathing glare at the automaton and stalk up to it, voice low with anger - and probably other reasons he's going to just go ahead and call anger, too. "What did you do to me?"

The doctor explains, once again, that it activated his 'neural implant,' whatever that is, and then says it's going to leave them alone for their therapy session. And then it's gone.

"Rrrrrgh."

"Lioriley." She corrected absently, her gaze shifting from Felix to the robot with that same confused expression. As much as she would have liked to converse about the dream and false memories and all that, there seem to be more pressing matters at hand. Like--

"Neural implants?" She repeated, head tilted quizzically, trying to piece together the clues from the robot's comment, as well as Felix's response. Something was messing with his head? And what was this about 'therapy'? If the pictures on the walls, the bed, and the array of toys and other items lining she shelves were any indication of their intent...

Oh no.

"I take it I missed a bit of instruction..."

"Oh. Lioriley. Sorry, I was asleep at the time." He manages that much before his body starts rebelling against him, at least.

"You don't want to know," he snaps, pacing back and forth a few times with clenched fists before he huffs in frustration and sits down in a chair, not facing her. "Just leave me alone."

"It is fine. I understand." Sort of. But, again, trying to parse that interaction was less important than whatever the hell this was.

She flinched at the sudden shift in tone, her lower lip worried between her teeth, leylines dimming faintly. "A-All right?" So that was...not helpful. But instead of pressing and potentially angering him further, the Lunari decided to give him a few minutes to breathe while she moved around the room in search of an exit or some clue relating to such.

Obviously, she was coming up empty.

'Breathe' is one thing he is trying to do. Another is calm himself down, in more ways than one. But whatever this implant is, its effects don't seem to be affected at all by thinking about the normal things that usually help with unwanted...attraction. Trying to put his mind somewhere other than the gutter is an exercise in futility, because what's causing it is just...on, constantly, no matter what he does. Like those shower things this world has, where you turn the knob and the water just runs until you turn it again. Only he can't reach the knob and has no idea how to turn the water back off.

Felix likes to think he's been somewhat patient and given it some time, but it's only a few minutes before he's clutching hard at the chair's arms and hunching a little in his seat, tense and miserable. It's different from the food on the ship; he and Colette at least had some time to get back to the cabin and talk about things before this feeling really became an unavoidable distraction. This time, it was sudden and all-in all at once, and it won't stop.

He refuses to look at her or even talk to her. If he just ignores her presence, maybe eventually he'll convince himself he's forgotten she's there and the implant will give up. Or...something.

Unfortunately for Felix, Lioriley was not the type of woman to sit and wait while someone was clearly suffering. Yes, he did tell her to leave him alone, but that didn't seem to be accomplishing much of anything. And with no success in finding an exit or anything of use beyond some pamphlet about stress relief and the healing benefits of orgasms (which, in the grand scheme of things was not useful at all), there was little else she could think to do.

So she settled on the edge of the bed with a sigh, a good couple of feet away from Felix, but staring right at him as she addressed him. "Do you need help? I do not know what that being has done to you, but if there is anything that I can do..."

I. Orientation

II. With Great Power

III. Dis-Orientation

IV. It's Morphin' Time

V. The Doctor's Back In

OOC Notes:

Felix Fraldarius | FE3H | OTA

The Doctor's Back In (Feelings Jam)

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neural implant because i'm ~*trash*~

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IT IS (FINALLY) TIME

here we goooooo

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neural implant because i'm ~trash~