EVENT ★ I PREDICT A RIOT

[futurologists]

I WANNA START A FIGHT RIOTS In the time between the quarantine and now, the virus has spread unnaturally rapidly, with the amount of the population infected estimated to be around 1.5% or approximately 3,750 people. Understandably, the panic has increased considerably. People who were taking the virus seriously before have begun to work themselves up into a frenzy, and even those who were calm are beginning to get anxious. An infected teacher went on a violent rampage at the local elementary school yesterday, leading the school board to close all Woodhurst schools for the rest of the week while the entire staff is studied for symptoms. There’s no test for the Bristol virus, however, so it’s impossible to tell for sure. This, of course, worries the parents. The unrest starts with a protest at the school, calling for schools to be closed indefinitely until the quarantine is over for the safety of the children, but it doesn’t stop there. Unrest turns to rioting before long; the majority of the riot is focused at city hall, where citizens are demanding answers, but there’s also mayhem at stores as the people of Woodhurst loot them, stocking up for what some assume is an impending apocalypse. Those who don’t believe this have locked themselves up in their homes not for protection from the infected but the rioters. Suffice it to say, most of the citizens out on the streets are of the slightly unstable variety, although some just found themselves caught up in the riots and became worked up by the crowd. Local police forces -- including ALASTAIR agents posing as police officers -- have been dispatched to deal with the rioters at city hall. Rioters who attempt to leave the city are taken care of by officers sent by the federal government to enforce the quarantine. CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE It might be a good idea to see what supplies can be found at the supermarkets, although you run the risk of getting attacked by a violent looter. The police won’t necessarily turn away anyone trying to keep order at city hall, but any supernatural powers will only incite the already violent crowd, so it’s recommended characters keep from utilizing their powers if they want to stay in one piece. Then, of course, there’s always the option to protect innocents who happen to be stuck out on the streets in the middle of the riots. While the entirety of the police force is focused at the quarantine borders and outside city hall, now is possibly one of the only chances to get full access to buildings in the city. There are still some workers who haven’t been sent home and some of the buildings are locked up, but there are few police officers that can be spared to go check out a simple break-in. Now is the time to search the city, if you're feeling brave. If you’re really ballsy, you can even try to slip in through the back door of city hall and go through their records. The only important building in town that’s not able to be searched is the hospital, which is incredibly busy due to the high number of people injured in the riots and traffic accidents. Of course, just because rioters aren’t around doesn’t mean you’ll be left alone. There’s always a chance you’ll find yourself alone in a building with someone very hungry. Willing to take the chance? Submit all CYOA choices to this thread. OOC NOTES The Bounty Board is now open! If you are looking for ways to get involved in this mission's optional objective, this is a good place to start. We’d also like to remind everyone that ALASTAIR does not invent cover stories for characters -- that’s all them! The only jobs they’ll help with getting are in the police force and government; everything else is up to characters to interview for. Questions about Woodhurst can be submitted to this thread. Questions about the game in general should be directed to the FAQ. You may submit mission ideas or player plots at any time.

Comments

[heritors]

... That's one way to put it. [ As always, the gist is there. They are the innocent, after all, not soldiers some of the Risen were. Though, at the same time, members of Audentes becoming infected would probably have a similar enough impact. ]

It depends how far the effects of the virus go, I suppose. And whether or not a cure could be found. [ At the mention of a worst case scenario, there's a pause to her step, before her expression shifts to a humorless smile. ] I would rather not see this world become like mine.

... But that's why we're here — to make sure the worst case scenario can be avoided.

[gutpunching]

Through whatever means necessary?

[If a cure isn't in the cards. Ever, or in time to make a difference. It's as conversational as it is pointed for the sake of the hypothetical argument. Like he's feeling her out for the sake of feeling her out. Even after that little revelation, he can't say he knows her well enough to know where her priorities lie and where her lines are drawn. Lucina's proven herself pretty dependable when it comes to taking out Bad Guys. He's sure she'll do what she has to if she had someone to protect. But raising a blade against a teammate? Given her shounen outbursts from the other day, he's a little more dubious.

It's all theoretical, anyway, of course.]

[heritors]

That's our mission, is it not?

[ Her answer comes quickly, because there isn't much to think about. She's been desperate enough before, and now that her world is safe — well, she has nothing else to lose.

( Of course, this is all hypothetical, and chances are when faced against her teammate all of this will crumble to bits — or if she has to, she'll do it kicking and screaming. But for now, she can live believing that she's objective oriented enough. ) ]

[gutpunching]

[He shrugs loosely.]

Only if you're a by-the-books kinda girl.

[Technically, they don't need to do much of anything ALASTAIR tells them to. There are no consequences, really, no policing what the team does besides pass or fail an objective as a whole. Jason takes the missions on a case by case basis, himself. If what he does lines up with ALASTAIR's priorities, that's just good luck for ALASTAIR.]

You do everything an interdimensional calculator tells you to?

[heritors]

We were recruited. [ She doesn't think about the calculator, or what following orders from an unknown thing makes her. It's not that different from listening to Robin, anyway. ] But more importantly, I believe what we're trying to do here — saving timelines — is a noble cause. Why would I not lend my strength where I can?

[ It's not like Lucina has much to lose either — her world is saved, everyone's alive and well at home. In some ways, ALASTAIR showing up was a good thing. ]

[gutpunching]

Recruited is a pretty generous way to put it.

[That makes it sound like it was intentional, not to mention recruiting (as opposed to conscripting) is usually voluntary. Which isn't what ALASTAIR's been feeding them at all. And you can't really dispute that they aren't exactly a handpicked crack team.]

I don't know about you, but most of us were picked up out of time and space by accident and tossed into a team full of other saps to earn our way out because HR can't afford the temporal cab fare to do it pro bono.

[Sure, there's other teams and other people that are apparently volunteers, career recruits. So maybe she was. But this particular team is almost exclusively temporal driftwood. Even if it's all true and there's not big recruitment conspiracy going on, company loyalty is harder to form from that.]

Personally, I like to avoid basing all my decisions on other people's agendas.

[Does that mean he's working toward different ends than she is? Not necessarily. Not yet. But all ALASTAIR's got to back its claims of moral high ground with what their calculations mean on a cosmic scale are...claims. So forgive him if he'll take the heroically battling entropy thing with a grain of salt and narrow his focus to what's actually in front of him.

Speaking of what's in front of him, the path forks, and the light catches on something in the distance.]

[heritors]

I was the same. [ In case he was wondering — temporal driftwood has a nice ring to it, let's go with that. ] Still, it is some ... form of recruitment, despite it being far from convention. [ Does "accidental recruitment" count as recruitment, join us in this lively debate at 7. ]

Then I suppose I've been lucky, to have my own morals line so closely with theirs. [ Or the interpretation she's been making, so far. After a brief silence, she adds. ] ... And yours, from the looks of it. [ As in, thanks for not totally screwing up their missions so far, Jason.

But anyway — the fork has her slow to a stop, body leaning one way then the next to see just what's up ahead. It takes her a bit to notice the light ( unlike some people, she doesn't have night vision ), but when she does, her hand raises to point to it. ] Should we go see what that is?