EVENT ★ LOST IN TRANSLATION

[futurologists]

RETURN TO OSKA Upon arrival in Oska, new and returning recruits alike will find that something strange is going on. Any attempts to communicate with someone who doesn't speak the same language as you will be just that -- like you don't speak the same language. Let's hope everyone is good at charades, because you're going to be out of luck for a full day. On the second day, a text comes across -- surprisingly intelligible to everyone. Is it over? Well . . . crowley: Hello, Audentes. We are currently experiencing magitek difficulties, as you may have guessed already. Temporal insects have arrived with our latest arrivals, and as you may imagine, we have had our paws full. cherenkov: We are working out how to mitigate the pest problem for good. For now, please put your unpleasantly huge feet to use and stomp them out. Or other such methods. crowley: We have created a quick patch to facilitate text-based communications, but verbal translation will continue to be down until the insects are exterminated. Thank you for your patience. It's not over. TEMPORAL INSECTS This invasive species has worked its way in through the rifts along with the newest batch of arrivals, and information on them is available in the library (provided you can read the language it's written in!). It seems they behave like locusts, living quietly within the space between rifts for many years until their numbers suddenly balloon and they begin to swarm in search of food. These bugs move fast and pack a nasty bite, but are unarmored and easily squished. Each one is about the size of a football, and leaves a little tell-tale slime trail that makes it easy to track. They can cling to any surface, and won't hesitate to leap onto attackers and bite if they feel threatened. One can take a decently sized but non-lethal bite out of someone, but a number of them together will pose a real danger. If punctured or squished they tend to explode into moderately acidic goo that can cause caustic burns if not immediately washed off. They are attracted to any area of high temporal energy, which can be literally any surface, corner, or point on or within the castle and its grounds. As they begin to feed they cause temporal distortion in the area. This manifests as the immediate area seeming to flicker backwards and forwards through time. An insect gnawing at a table leg in the dining area, for example, might cause the area to stutter between years and years of dinner parties, ghostly attendants of all fashions and species appearing and disappearing as they enter and leave the affected area. An onlooker can't interact with temporal distortions directly, but if the insect is left to its own devices, it will eventually eat through all of the temporal energy and render the immediate area gray, frozen, and completely inert. It's highly recommended you kill or otherwise chase off an insect before it manages this, as it can do irreversible damage to a world. For affected Oska locations, please see this post. OOC NOTES The translation errors will continue through the rest of the month. For more information or to ask questions, please check the plotting post here! New bounties are available in Oska! Please remember to fill out your squidge success form before August 31, 23:59 UTC! Filling the form out is mandatory, even if you do not have the 3 squidge threads. You will not pass AC if you do not fill out the form. Characters who have been accepted on August 20th are exempt. Please direct questions relating to the success form here.

Comments

[paintjobs]

[ that doesn't sit well with him. That kindness. People are only kind when they want something — and if they're not, then they're generally an idiot, ripe to be taken advantage of. If not by Knock Out, who really doesn't need much of anything from Zenyatta, then from someone less scrupulous. It's just a fact.

The good humor especially grates. ]

That's a bad business model, you know. Doing things for free like that.

telling my robot to be a prostitute... smh...

[iomnic]

You are implying I should charge?

[ Zenyatta hums, obviously not intending on doing that. ]

I have no need for currency, or items. If you insist on paying me back, I would appreciate if you would return the kindness to someone else who needs it.

the oldest profession, perfectly respectable, etc

[paintjobs]

Let's not be too hasty, now, I'm not the sort to turn away a freebie.

[ He manages one of his unkind smiles, feeling a little more back onto solid footing. ]

I was just offering you a little wisdom.

You got me there

[iomnic]

[If he could smile back, he would, clearly more amused than insulted.]

I will keep your wisdom in mind next time you find yourself covered in slime.

[No, he won't. He'd do it for free as he had done just now, of course. But playful teasing is one of the few "sins" he allows himself.]

[paintjobs]

[ Does nothing sink in for this guy? His smile drops away again for frustration, and he folds both arms over his chest. ]

Don't worry, I don't make a habit of asking for favors.

[ That's not true, he's done nothing but ask for things from people since he showed up here. But he's not happy about it!! ]

[iomnic]

Mm.

[ The kind of humming sound someone makes when they are "agreeing" with someone and they totally "believe" them. ]

There is no shame in asking for assistance. Perhaps it is not the way you are accustomed, but we are teammates now. Unity is our biggest strength.

[paintjobs]

[ This sort of talk is so... foreign, it's throwing him off again. Are these the kinds of things Autobots say to each other? It sounds like the right sort of idealistic drivel. ]

Teammates, right. [ He shakes his head as if incredulous. ] So I hear — but like they say, talk comes cheap.

[iomnic]

And action worth its weight in plutonium.

[ That's how the saying goes, right? Maybe the future changed things a little. ]

I understand your scepticism. It is why I fully intend to demonstrate otherwise. My offer to help you in any way I can should you need it remains open.

[paintjobs]

[ Is this just because they're robots, in a sea of organics? It's as much as Knock Out can figure — and that almost makes sense. Sort of. It's still taking it a little far, though. That is, if Zenyatta really means what he says and isn't playing some con... he finds himself doubting that possibility though, even with his finely honed suspicious nature.

He shakes his head. ] Honestly, I can't tell if you're stupid or severely misguided.

[iomnic]

[To that, Zenyatta laughs warmly.]

Only the foolish and the wise do not change.

[paintjobs]

[ oh come on, does nothing get to Zenyatta?? ]

And considering the wise don't give away everything blindly, I guess that settles it as the former. [ god!! ]

[iomnic]

[Oh, things do. But only very specific and deeply personal things.]

Better to be a fool who gives than a wise miser, I suppose.

[paintjobs]

And there we'll have to disagree.

[ As if he hasn't already made this spectacularly clear. He huffs. ]

I much prefer to have. You never know when you might need it.

[iomnic]

You have made it quite clear you disagree with my perspective, Knock Out. But I am not asking you to change. The universe requires balance. If there were those who only gave, there would be no one to receive.

[ He has to wonder why Knock Out seems so affronted at the idea of Zenyatta not being as selfish as he is. Are you worried about him being taken advantage of, Knock Out?? ]

[paintjobs]

[ That might just be exactly it, but try getting it out of him. ]

As long as we have an understanding. [ He'd really prefer Zenyatta admit the error of his ways and come around to good reason... but whatever, there's time to work on him. ]

[iomnic]

Oh, good. I strive for reaching mutual understanding.

[Yes, because Zenyatta is the one with an "error of ways."]