erkumods: (Default)
erku mods ([personal profile] erkumods) wrote in [community profile] ercookies2021-09-20 03:04 pm
Entry tags:

TDM017: SYSTEMS UPGRADE

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.


No





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.




N A V I G A T I O N

freshcut: (pic#15040468)

[personal profile] freshcut 2021-09-27 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[The contraptions here playing at being human expect them to "talk it out". This is a good way to get it out of the way as any, and perhaps the only reason Abigail is more talkative than usual, if any.

Or rather, more responsive. Her arms stretch over her head on the bed, every joint cracking as she shapes unused limbs into slow action.]


Long enough? More than six weeks, less than two months. Not that I know what month it is. Pretty sure it was March before I woke up here. It certainly doesn't feel like anywhere near that now.

[It remains unspoken that she hasn't gotten to any of this at all, even in her ennui.]
8chohakkai8: Icon Made By Yours Truly (Hakkai At Peace Feathers Relax Low)

[personal profile] 8chohakkai8 2021-09-28 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
March? Huh.

[Was a few months ago around March? Sure enough, his sense of time and seasons was a bit off-put because of how this world had worked. It perhaps didn't aid matters that up until recently, the weather seemed to be turbulent and hard to predict. Between the beautiful summertime weather, the dreary, cloudy days, and the tumultuous storm, he wasn't even sure what it must be like now. The last he remembered, the world was falling apart, and now, he's in some Doctors' Office with sex posters everywhere.]

Time is blurring together.

[He sighed, his shoulders going slack as he tried to possibly think of how to broach the next question floating in his mind. Truthfully, it was probably the same thing circling the mind of the girl next to him.]

It seems we're here because we're not coping well enough. At least not according to the robots. To think of all times to end up in therapy would be in a place and time like this. Especially after everything they just put us through. Do they think this will help?
freshcut: (pic#15040459)

[personal profile] freshcut 2021-09-28 05:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[It was March and she had been on her way to the Himalayas. And then the beach happened.

This random transportation has been the most exciting thing to happen to Abigail in months, quite the statement considering her line of work. The fact that the thrill disintegrated as swiftly as sea foam is a rude awakening she's not entirely happy with.

Now, she has the decency to straighten up into something slightly less petulant and more attentive. Oh, Abigail is familiar with that. Well meaning foster families and perplexed clinical, if friendly faces. She's not sure she finds that preferable to the comically straight forward robots, here.]


Do you think you need to be in therapy?


8chohakkai8: Icon Made By Yours Truly (Hakkai Smile Calm Glance Off Think)

[personal profile] 8chohakkai8 2021-09-28 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh. Now that was most certainly a question to ask.

His smile seemed to become somewhat strained as his shoulders shrugged. A faint awkward chuckle escaping him as he did his best to brush the matter off.
]

Oh. Most certainly.

[And that did not just mean sexually, of course. Hakkai knew he had his fair share of mental hang-ups regarding a plethora of things. Clinically he knew he should have perhaps seen a psychologist more than a decade ago. But of course, professional help was hard to come by in back-water Shangri-La, especially with the lifestyle he grew up within. And upon reaching a point in his life where it would be easier to obtain, he had become so accustomed to hiding whatever clinical psychosis he experienced to the point that there was no need.]

And you?
Edited 2021-09-28 20:04 (UTC)
freshcut: (pic#15040470)

[personal profile] freshcut 2021-09-29 04:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, aren't you frank.

[It's one more thing to get it over with. One more process to make Aby more palatable to be around. Less tense. Less morose. Less wrong. She's taken to it with careless ease, her anger and frustration perpetually boiling right under the surface.

She doesn't think it's helped.]


Right, I'm here, aren't I? Who cares what I think? If you're wondering whether I'm well adjusted at all, then far from it. Can't make that claim and back it up.

Nah, I'm just a mess. Can't see why that needs fixing.
8chohakkai8: Icon Made By Yours Truly (Hakkai Sideglace Curious Bubble Blow)

[personal profile] 8chohakkai8 2021-09-29 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[Hakkai couldn't help but clap his hands together with that. Unable to help but express his amusement at her response. It was true that therapy was always something that anyone should experience at some point in their lives. It was always good to talk out one's issues. But still, how she blew off all of it with a few straight-forward sentences was admirable.]

Oh, well said. Although I am sure being a 'mess' as we both are probably isn't aiding "them" on "their" efforts.

[With that, he motioned over to the robot doctor and receptionist as they idly mimicked what could have been a routine follow-through at the counter. What a silly thing to see; the robots as they tried to mimic human nuance in such a manner.]

After all, they wish for us to be the ideal breeding stock to aid the Auger, yes? I'm sure 'troubled' people like us must be a bit of a hindrance.
freshcut: (pic#15040467)

[personal profile] freshcut 2021-10-04 05:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[There is no disguisting the very conspicuous shiver that rushes down Abigail's spine at that last remark. She may be adept at muting her responses and feelings to a certain degree, but there's an exception for every situation. In this case, the meatier aspect of copulation.]

You've been thinking about this a lot, looks like? Stuck in your head with the concept? Besides, you don't need to be happy to have a sex drive.

[A clear contradiction to how her own brand of depression has routinely killed her interest in other people.]

You don't look troubled, anyway. In fact, you don't like you'd need much of their aid in that other department.
8chohakkai8: Icon Created By Yours Truly (Hakkai Rest Relax Dream Sleep Outside)

[personal profile] 8chohakkai8 2021-10-05 04:01 am (UTC)(link)
Oh? Ahah, I suppose I should thank you for the compliment.

[If only she had seen how much his mental hang-ups and self-imposed awkwardness had thrown him off in adapting to this land. Not that it stopped him entirely, per se. But he was still certainly far too caught up on too many things for the experience to be a smooth transition in the slightest.]

No, I have a few reasons that keep this place from being any paradise in which to toss myself. If anything, I would say I must be grating on the Augers nerves with how often it had to impose forced situation upon forced situation at me for anything to work.

I guess this is its way of saying, 'Damn it, I tried. You sort out your issues yourself.'
Edited 2021-10-05 04:06 (UTC)
freshcut: (pic#15040460)

[personal profile] freshcut 2021-10-08 09:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Was just making an observation. [Abigail neither cares enough to flirt nor be polite. It's simply a way to move the conversation along in a less damning direction, for her, at least.]

Say, you think your situation is unique? Like everyone else's either too okay with-- [she waves vaguely at their tacky, if cheerful, consultation room] all of this, or just resigned for it? Do you feel you're the only one not standing out because of whatever special situation you're dealing with?

8chohakkai8: Icon Made By Yours Truly (Hakkai Glasses Look Down Dramatic Smile)

[personal profile] 8chohakkai8 2021-10-08 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh no, most far from it. I'm sure if I were the only one, the Auger wouldn't have something like this set up after all. Although I believe what they are trying to do is push us closer towards the idea that we should all feel 'resigned to it.'

[With that, he sighed out. Rolling his head to the side to stretch his neck and shoulders.]

I can't imagine all these forced scenarios that it places us into are ideal. If anything, it's almost counterintuitive for wanting us to conform and adapt. Such a shame that they almost have the right idea with this method but just barely missed it.

Ah, right. Here we are talking about the philosophical and sociological intricacies of a forced sexually charged dystopia, and we haven't even introduced ourselves, have we?

[He offered a polite bow of his head with a smile.]

My name is Cho Hakkai. It's a pleasure.
freshcut: (pic#15040471)

[personal profile] freshcut 2021-10-09 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[Not a social butterfly by nature nor circumstances, Aby is all the same too glad for the diversion from a discussion veering a touch too close to a certain cult like situation from her path. She links her bare heels, hunching forward then stretching back. The longer she stays here, the more out of shape she gets.]

Abigail Jones. You're not a boring person at all, are you, Mister Hakkai?
8chohakkai8: Icon Made By Yours Truly (Hakkai Laugh Marker Playful Cheer Smile)

[personal profile] 8chohakkai8 2021-10-22 06:12 am (UTC)(link)
A boring person?

[Oh. Now that was certainly an interesting question. Hakkai's head tilted the side as he thought over the implications of it all.]

I suppose that would be a matter of perspective. One could say that, from the viewpoint of many people, I certainly like doing 'boring' things.

[After all, his current favorite hobbies were interior decorating and getting Koi Towers stone floors to shine 'just right'. He could think of a large number of his friends who would think that was boring.]

If anything-- I would think that's something you'd have to decide of me yourself, isn't that right Ms.Jones?

[He says with the lightest and sweetest of smiles.]